🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage Preamble Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Time The starting lap has begun. Track Information We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us. Countdown The final countdown is underway. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's main man. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role. Grid Details There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Past Performance Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Right, just over 20 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 only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season. The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.