🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Qualifying: Live Updates Preamble Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Real-Time Updates Warm-Up Lap Period The warm-up lap is underway. Track Information There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us. Countdown The countdown is underway. Driver Situation One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to the team team principal. Starting Positions Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari 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 Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Racer Statements "We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. 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 did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago. The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.