🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage Preamble Philip is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Current Events Warm-Up Lap Time The formation lap has begun. Track Information We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out. Final Moments The countdown is on. Racer Positions One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role. Starting Positions Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Past Performance Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, just over 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago. The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.