🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage Preamble Philip is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Real-Time Updates Starting Lap Time The starting lap is underway. Circuit Details There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft informs us. Countdown The final countdown is on. Driver Situation An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role. Grid Details There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season. Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.