🔗 Share this article Qatar Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Updates Preamble Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm). Current Events Warm-Up Lap Period The formation lap is underway. Track Information We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us. Final Moments The last moments is underway. Racer Positions One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team. The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal. Starting Positions There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning. Team Standings The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Past Performance Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season. The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of the short race.