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Preamble

The author is arriving soon to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Time

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.

Media Conversations

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

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication 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 Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.