🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage Introduction Philip will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Current Events Starting Lap Period The warm-up lap has begun. Track Information We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out. Final Moments The last moments is on. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start 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 take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Previous Results Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago. Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.