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Preamble

Philip is about to begin to guide you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (18:00 GMT).

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Starting Lap Period

The warm-up lap has started.

Circuit Details

There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, David Croft reminds us.

Final Moments

The countdown is on.

Driver Situation

An advantage in Max Verstappen's favour: his teammate Tsunoda is in front of him by one place. He is unlikely to interfere with the team's lead driver.

Interview Updates

Sky interviewing Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his stepping up to the team team principal.

Grid Details

Just sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of twentieth and final in Las Vegas, leading to an eighth position in the main race, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment again on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result adjusted to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.

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

Driver Comments

"We take the experience for the next day," states Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.

Team Standings

It's not all about the drivers' title: The team have dominated the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage 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 won that day – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Right, approximately twenty minutes to go until the short race begins. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of what is to come, instead of significant in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. Mind you, the runner-up spot here was enough for Verstappen to claim the title in a prior season.

Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.