🔗 Share this article

Introduction

The author is arriving soon to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Current Events

Formation Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.

Final Moments

The final countdown is underway.

Driver Situation

One point in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.

Grid Details

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 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 Q1 again on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

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

Racer Statements

"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.

Team Standings

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: The team have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Previous Results

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Right, just over 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver wins the championship following Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.