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Introduction

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

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Warm-Up Lap Period

The warm-up lap is underway.

Circuit Details

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

Final Moments

The countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

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

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

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