🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Opening Notes The author is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Live Feed Warm-Up Lap Time The warm-up lap is underway. Track Information We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us. Final Moments The last moments is on. Driver Situation An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to the team lead role. Starting Positions Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that. Constructors' Championship It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Previous Results Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season. Max Verstappen wins the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.