🔗 Share this article

Opening Notes

The author will be here shortly to cover today's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Formation Lap Time

The formation lap has begun.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator points out.

Final Moments

The countdown has begun.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.

Media Conversations

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

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

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted 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.

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.