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Introduction

Our correspondent is about to begin to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

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Starting Lap Time

The starting lap is underway.

Circuit Details

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

Countdown

The final countdown is on.

Driver Situation

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

Media Conversations

Sky speaking with Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on Friday. The team have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all doing likewise.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed last year, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Alright, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to claim the title two years ago.

The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.