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Opening Notes

Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Warm-Up Lap Time

The formation lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.

Countdown

The final countdown is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up 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 the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

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

Racer Statements

"We'll use the experience for the next day," says Isack Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to seal second place during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Previous Results

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.