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Opening Notes

Philip is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.

Countdown

The countdown has begun.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's main man.

Interview Updates

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

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

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

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately 20 minutes to go until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

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