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Preamble

Philip will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Period

The starting lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

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

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.

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

Racer Statements

"We'll use the learning for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.