🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage Introduction Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Live Feed Warm-Up Lap Period The starting lap has started. Circuit Details We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out. Countdown The countdown has begun. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role. Grid Details There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season. Max Verstappen wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.