🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Live Coverage Introduction Philip is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Formation Lap Period The warm-up lap has started. Track Information We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out. Final Moments The countdown has begun. Driver Situation One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role. Starting Positions There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning. Team Standings It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Past Performance Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.