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Preamble

The author will be here shortly to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap is underway.

Track Information

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

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion currently: the analyst is with Mercedes.

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

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

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

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

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

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.