🔗 Share this article

Introduction

The author will be here shortly to cover today's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

Real-Time Updates

Starting Lap Period

The formation lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are 19 laps of the longest circuit in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The last moments has begun.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. He is unlikely to mess with the team's main man.

Interview Updates

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

Karun Chandhok is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin team principal.

Starting Positions

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to make it out of Q1 once more on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently adjusted to his car configuration and so he will start from the starting area.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Driver Comments

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," 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 constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. George Russell can help them achieve that from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri won that day – as he did the previous season, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over 20 minutes remaining until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place here was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of the short race.