🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage Opening Notes Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Time The starting lap is underway. Track Information There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us. Final Moments The last moments is underway. Racer Positions One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role. Starting Positions There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago. The driver wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.