🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Main Event Grid Setting: Live Coverage Introduction Philip will be here shortly to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT). Current Events Warm-Up Lap Time The starting lap has begun. Circuit Details There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us. Final Moments The last moments is underway. Racer Positions One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is with Mercedes. The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role. Grid Details There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane. The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position. Driver Comments "We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning. Constructors' Championship The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader. Previous Results Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick. Short Race Importance Right, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago. The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.