🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Opening Notes Philip will be here shortly to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Period The warm-up lap has started. Circuit Details There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out. Countdown The countdown is underway. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role. Grid Details There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago. The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.