🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Updates Opening Notes Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Formation Lap Time The warm-up lap is underway. Track Information We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out. Final Moments The last moments is underway. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Grid Details Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We take 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 dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. Max Verstappen wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.