🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates Preamble Our correspondent will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Real-Time Updates Formation Lap Time The starting lap is underway. Circuit Details There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator informs us. Countdown The countdown is underway. Driver Situation One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role. Grid Details There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning. Team Standings It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Past Performance Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago. Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.