🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Preamble Philip is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Current Events Starting Lap Period The formation lap is underway. Track Information We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us. Countdown The last moments has begun. Driver Situation An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal. Grid Details There are only 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 the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.