🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates Introduction Philip is arriving soon to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Current Events Starting Lap Period The formation lap has begun. Track Information There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out. Countdown The final countdown is on. Racer Positions An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.