🔗 Share this article Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Real-Time Updates Introduction Philip will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Current Events Starting Lap Time The warm-up lap is underway. Track Information There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out. Countdown The last moments has begun. Racer Positions An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. The analyst 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. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short 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 winner. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion two years ago. Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.