🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage Opening Notes The author will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Real-Time Updates Formation Lap Time The warm-up lap has started. Track Information There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us. Final Moments The last moments has begun. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal. Starting Positions Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We'll use the experience for the next day," 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 the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago. The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.