🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates Introduction Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Real-Time Updates Starting Lap Period The formation lap has begun. Circuit Details We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us. Countdown The last moments is underway. Driver Situation An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal. Starting Positions There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming 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. Previous Results Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season. The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.