🔗 Share this article

Introduction

The author will be here shortly to cover this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

Live Feed

Starting Lap Time

The formation lap has started.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.

Countdown

The last moments is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's main man.

Media Conversations

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

The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team lead role.

Grid Details

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on Friday. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was sufficient for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

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