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Introduction

The author is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

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Formation Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Track Information

We have 19 laps of the longest circuit in F1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The last moments is underway.

Driver Situation

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

Interview Updates

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

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.

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

Racer Statements

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

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have run away with the team championship but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

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

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go until the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.