Our correspondent is arriving soon to cover this day's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).
The starting lap is underway.
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator points out.
The countdown is underway.
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is in front of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's lead driver.
Sky speaking with Sky currently: the analyst is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to Aston Martin lead role.
Just 16 cars on the grid. It was another bad qualifying for Lewis Hamilton: after coming twentieth and final in the previous race, leading to an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have as a result adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Stroll and the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Colapinto are all doing likewise.
"We take the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, starting eleventh. Expect a lot of that.
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will begin immediately after the leader.
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. The driver from McLaren is attempting a third consecutive win.
Alright, approximately 20 minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, its main importance is as an indication of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
The driver claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of Qatar GP sprint race.
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