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Introduction

Philip is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Formation Lap Time

The warm-up lap has begun.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The countdown has begun.

Driver Situation

One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull'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 sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

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

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated 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. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

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

Short Race Importance

Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

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