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Opening Notes

The author is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

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Warm-Up Lap Time

The starting lap is underway.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft points out.

Countdown

The last moments has begun.

Driver Situation

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Driver Comments

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

Team Standings

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

Previous Results

Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

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