🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage Introduction Philip will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Real-Time Updates Formation Lap Time The warm-up lap is underway. Circuit Details There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us. Final Moments The countdown is underway. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role. Grid Details There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane. Aston Martin'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 tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season. The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.