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Preamble

The author is about to begin to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap is underway.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The final countdown has begun.

Racer Positions

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to mess with Red Bull's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin lead role.

Starting Positions

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Racer Statements

"We take the learning for the next day," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but the team, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

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

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points available to the victor. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen wins the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.