🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Updates Introduction The author is arriving soon to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Current Events Starting Lap Time The starting lap is underway. Track Information We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out. Countdown The last moments has begun. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Past Performance Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.