🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Opening Notes Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Time The starting lap has begun. Circuit Details There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out. Final Moments The countdown is underway. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season. The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.