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Preamble

Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has begun.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start 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 experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

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

Previous Results

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

Sprint Race Value

Right, approximately 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.