đŸ”— Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates Preamble Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Real-Time Updates Formation Lap Time The warm-up lap has started. Circuit Details We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator informs us. Final Moments The final countdown has begun. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role. Grid Details There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago. The driver wins F1 world title after PĂ©rez crashes out of the short race.