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Preamble

Philip is arriving soon to take you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, the commentator points out.

Countdown

The final countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst 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.

Starting Positions

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Racer Statements

"We take the learning for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title two years ago.

The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of the short race.