🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage Introduction The author will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Current Events Formation Lap Period The warm-up lap has started. Circuit Details We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out. Countdown The final countdown is underway. Racer Positions One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role. Grid Details There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Racer Statements "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago. The driver claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.