🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates Introduction Our correspondent is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Time The warm-up lap has begun. Circuit Details We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us. Final Moments The countdown has begun. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area. The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Past Performance Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.