🔗 Share this article Qatar's Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage Introduction The author is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Current Events Formation Lap Time The starting lap has started. Track Information We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft points out. Final Moments The countdown is underway. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role. Grid Details There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo 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. There will be plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion two years ago. Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.