Our correspondent is about to begin to take you through this day's short race (14:00 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 last moments has begun.
One point in Verstappen's favour: his fellow driver Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by a single position. He is unlikely to mess with Red Bull's main man.
Sky's internal discussion now: the analyst is with Mercedes.
Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing the engineer about his stepping up to the team lead role.
There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for the driver: following his result of 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. Ferrari have as a result made changes to his car configuration and so he begins from the pit lane.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and the Alpine pair of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
"We take the experience for tomorrow," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. 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 their rivals, will be hoping to seal second place during this event. Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind the leader.
Oscar Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a hat-trick.
Right, just over twenty minutes to go until the sprint race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with just eight championship points available to the winner. Mind you, second place here was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed the championship following his teammate's accident of the short race.
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Brian Hernandez
Brian Hernandez