🔗 Share this article

Opening Notes

Philip will be here shortly to take you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Time

The formation lap is underway.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in Formula One, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The last moments is on.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to challenge the team's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky interviewing Sky now: the analyst is with Mercedes.

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

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, leading to 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 consequently adjusted to his setup and so he will start from the pit lane.

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

Driver Comments

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

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. George Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Sprint Race Value

Alright, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than highly important in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.