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Opening Notes

Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Period

The formation lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator points out.

Final Moments

The last moments is underway.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.