🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Introduction The author is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Current Events Starting Lap Period The formation lap has started. Circuit Details We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out. Final Moments The final countdown has begun. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role. Starting Positions There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.