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Preamble

Philip is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Period

The starting lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.

Final Moments

The final countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with 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, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

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

Driver Comments

"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect plenty of learning.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

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