🔗 Share this article

Introduction

Our correspondent is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).

Real-Time Updates

Formation Lap Time

The starting lap is underway.

Track Information

We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator points out.

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to mess with the team's lead driver.

Media Conversations

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

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

Starting Positions

Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he did not manage to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have consequently made changes to his setup 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.

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for the next day," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. 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 40-point lead over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after Verstappen.

Past Performance

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

Sprint Race Value

Alright, approximately 20 minutes to go till the short race begins. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, rather than significant in its own right, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for the driver to become champion in a prior season.

The driver wins F1 world title following Pérez crashes out of the short race.