🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage Opening Notes Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Current Events Warm-Up Lap Period The warm-up lap has begun. Track Information There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us. Final Moments The last moments has begun. Racer Positions One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal. Grid Details There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We'll use the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Past Performance Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago. The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.