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Opening Notes

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

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.

Final Moments

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

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