🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates Preamble The author is arriving soon to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Live Feed Starting Lap Time The formation lap has begun. Track Information We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out. Countdown The last moments is underway. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal. Starting Positions Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: 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 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago. The driver claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.