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Preamble

The author will be here shortly to take you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Period

The starting lap has begun.

Circuit Details

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out.

Final Moments

The countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's advantage: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Grid Details

Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for the driver: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.

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

Racer Statements

"We take the experience for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of highly important in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.

Max Verstappen claimed the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.