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Opening Notes

Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Formation Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The last moments has begun.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.

Starting Positions

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Racer Statements

"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.