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Introduction

Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Period

The formation lap is underway.

Circuit Details

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The last moments has begun.

Racer Positions

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

Media Conversations

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

The analyst is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed 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 make it out of Q1 again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the pit lane.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

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 their rivals, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is going for a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.