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Preamble

Our correspondent is arriving soon to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Period

The starting lap is underway.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out.

Countdown

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Racer Statements

"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect 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 second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of the short race.