🔗 Share this article

Introduction

Philip is about to begin to guide you through this day's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Time

The starting lap is underway.

Track Information

There are nineteen laps of the longest circuit in F1, the commentator informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.

Media Conversations

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

The analyst is jumping ahead to the 2026 season, speaking with Adrian Newey about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.

Grid Details

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another bad qualifying for the driver: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed 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.

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

Driver Comments

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

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to seal second place this weekend. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri won that day – as he managed last year, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, just over 20 minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of what is to come, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, second place in this race was enough for Verstappen to become champion two years ago.

Max Verstappen wins F1 world title following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.