🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Coverage Introduction The author will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Starting Lap Time The formation lap has begun. Track Information There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us. Countdown The countdown is underway. Racer Positions One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man. Interview Updates Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Starting Positions There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area. The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We'll use the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win. Sprint Race Value Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.