🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage Opening Notes Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Real-Time Updates Starting Lap Period The warm-up lap is underway. Circuit Details There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us. Countdown The final countdown has begun. Racer Positions An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal. Grid Details There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Previous Results Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season. Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.