🔗 Share this article Qatar's Short Race and Grand Prix Grid Setting: Real-Time Coverage Introduction The author will be here shortly to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT). Real-Time Updates Starting Lap Time The warm-up lap has started. Circuit Details There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out. Final Moments The last moments is underway. Racer Positions One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver. Media Conversations Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes. Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal. Grid Details Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise. Driver Comments "We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning. Team Standings It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader. Past Performance Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win. Short Race Importance Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago. The driver claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.