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Opening Notes

The author will be here shortly to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Warm-Up Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.

Countdown

The countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Racer Statements

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

Team Standings

It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Oscar 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 20 minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.