Our correspondent will be here shortly to take you through this day's short race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
The formation lap has started.
We have 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula 1, the commentator reminds us.
The final countdown is on.
An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. It's improbable to challenge the team's lead driver.
Sky speaking with Sky currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, speaking with the engineer about his promotion to Aston Martin team principal.
There are only sixteen vehicles on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth position in the main race, he did not manage to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he will start from the starting area.
The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
"We'll use the learning for tomorrow," states Hadjar, 11th on the grid. Expect a lot of that.
The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: The team have dominated the team championship but Mercedes, with a 40-point lead over their rivals, are aiming to seal second place during this event. Russell can assist in this goal from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Piastri was victorious then – as he did the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is going for a third consecutive win.
Alright, just over twenty minutes to go till the sprint race begins. Barring disaster, its main importance is as a preview of future events, rather than significant in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the victor. Mind you, second place in this race was sufficient 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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Nicole Winters
| 03 Sep 2026
Nicole Winters
| 03 Sep 2026