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Preamble

Philip is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Warm-Up Lap Time

The formation lap is underway.

Track Information

We have nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The last moments has begun.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

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

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. The team have consequently made changes to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

The team'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 Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Team Standings

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver wins F1 world title after his teammate's accident of the short race.