🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates Preamble Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm). Live Feed Warm-Up Lap Period The formation lap has begun. Track Information There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out. Countdown The last moments has begun. Racer Positions An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role. Starting Positions Just 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-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area. Aston Martin's 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 the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Right, just over 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.