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Opening Notes

Philip is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

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Warm-Up Lap Time

The starting lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The countdown is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

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

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Racer Statements

"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

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

Short Race Importance

Alright, just over twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, rather than highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to claim the title two years ago.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.