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Opening Notes

Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

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Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has begun.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.

Countdown

The last moments has begun.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. 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.

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Racer Statements

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with only eight points available to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.

The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.