🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates Introduction The author is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Current Events Warm-Up Lap Period The warm-up lap has begun. Circuit Details There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us. Countdown The final countdown has begun. Driver Situation An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal. Starting Positions Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning. Team Standings It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Past Performance Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season. The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.