🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage Preamble The author will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Real-Time Updates Formation Lap Time The starting lap has begun. Track Information We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator informs us. Final Moments The final countdown is on. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal. Grid Details There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last 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 the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We take the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season. Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.