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Preamble

The author will be here shortly to cover this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The starting lap is underway.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator reminds us.

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

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

Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.