🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage Opening Notes The author will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Live Feed Starting Lap Period The formation lap is underway. Track Information There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft points out. Countdown The countdown has begun. Racer Positions One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of 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 constructors' gong but the team, 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 last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season. The driver claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.