🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Opening Notes The author will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Real-Time Updates Starting Lap Period The warm-up lap has begun. Circuit Details We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out. Countdown The countdown is on. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We'll use the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick. 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, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.