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Preamble

Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.

Countdown

The final countdown is on.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

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

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.

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

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.