🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates Introduction Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Real-Time Updates Formation Lap Period The formation lap has begun. Circuit Details We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us. Final Moments The last moments has begun. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal. Starting Positions There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago. Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.