🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates Preamble The author is arriving soon to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Current Events Starting Lap Period The starting lap is underway. Track Information We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out. Countdown The countdown is underway. Driver Situation An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role. Grid Details There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago. The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.