π Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates Preamble Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Live Feed Formation Lap Period The formation lap is underway. Track Information There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us. Countdown The final countdown has begun. Racer Positions An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," 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 Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Past Performance Piastri won that day β as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season. The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.