🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Coverage Introduction The author is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Time The formation lap has started. Circuit Details There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft points out. Countdown The countdown is underway. Racer Positions One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man. Interview Updates Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre 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 It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint 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 available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago. Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.