🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates Introduction Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Real-Time Updates Formation Lap Period The starting lap has started. Track Information We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator informs us. Countdown The countdown has begun. Racer Positions An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role. Grid Details There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Past Performance Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season. The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.