🔗 Share this article

Opening Notes

The author is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Current Events

Warm-Up Lap Time

The formation lap has started.

Circuit Details

We have nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown is on.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to make it out of Q1 again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the starting area.

The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

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

Team Standings

It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over 20 minutes remaining till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as an indication of future events, instead of highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, second place here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

The driver wins the championship after his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.