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Preamble

Philip is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

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Formation Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in F1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The countdown has begun.

Driver Situation

One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

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

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.

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

Racer Statements

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

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.