🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates Introduction Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Real-Time Updates Starting Lap Period The formation lap is underway. Track Information There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in F1, the commentator points out. Final Moments The countdown is underway. Driver Situation An advantage 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. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season. The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.