🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage Opening Notes Philip is arriving soon to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Current Events Starting Lap Period The starting lap is underway. Track Information We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us. Countdown The last moments has begun. Driver Situation An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's main man. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship It's not all about 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. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season. The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.