🔗 Share this article

Preamble

Philip will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Live Feed

Warm-Up Lap Time

The starting lap has begun.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.

Countdown

The final countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

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

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out 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.

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

Racer Statements

"We take the learning for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

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