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Preamble

Philip is about to begin to guide you through today's short race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (18:00 GMT).

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Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator informs us.

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Driver Situation

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

Interview Updates

Sky speaking with Sky now: Gary Neville is with Mercedes.

The analyst is jumping ahead to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team lead role.

Starting Positions

There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the main race, he failed to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his setup and so he begins 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 the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.

Constructors' Championship

It's not all about the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but the team, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, will be hoping to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.

Previous Results

Piastri was victorious then – as he did last year, as well. The driver from McLaren is attempting a hat-trick.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately twenty minutes remaining till the short race gets under way. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its own right, with just eight championship points available to the winner. However, the runner-up spot here was enough for the driver to become champion two years ago.

The driver wins F1 world title after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.