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Opening Notes

Our correspondent is about to begin to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Time

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.

Final Moments

The last moments is on.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

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

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.

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

Driver Comments

"We'll use the learning for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

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

Short Race Importance

Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.

The driver claimed the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.