🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage Preamble The author is about to begin to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Time The warm-up lap has begun. Circuit Details There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out. Final Moments The final countdown has begun. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey 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 the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough 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.