🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Preamble The author is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Current Events Starting Lap Period The formation lap is underway. Track Information There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us. Final Moments The final countdown is underway. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role. Starting Positions Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.