🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Updates Introduction The author will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Formation Lap Period The warm-up lap is underway. Circuit Details There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator informs us. Countdown The final countdown has begun. Driver Situation An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge Red Bull's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season. The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.