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Preamble

The author is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft informs us.

Final Moments

The final countdown is on.

Driver Situation

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

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

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining 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 awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

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