🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage Opening Notes Philip is arriving soon to take you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Real-Time Updates Starting Lap Time The formation lap has started. Track Information There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out. Final Moments The last moments is underway. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Previous Results Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.