Lap 17/62 Verstappen must’ve been managing his tyres in the race because he’s now 3.5s ahead now, while Hamilton tells his team he can’t go any faster. It’s looking good for Red Bull.

Lap 16/62 Let’s go through the order:

1. Verstappen

2. Leclerc

3. Hamilton

4. Antonelli

5. Norris

6. Piastri

7. Lawson

8. Hulkenberg

9. Gasly

10 Bearman

11. Ocon

12. Russell

Lap 15/62 Fastest lap set by Verstappen, whoi now leads Hamilton, in third, by 4.1s, while Russell is closing the gap on Ocon by a second a circuit.

Lap 14/62 Verstappen extends his lead to 2.2s, now 2.4s, now 2.6s, and this is impressive stuff.

Lap 13/62 Russell is now up to 13th, and will fancy himself some points from here. Not enough to disquiet Antonelli, who we’ve barely mentioned and lies fourth, oh, and Russell nails Sainz to move 12th. This is some terrific work from him.

Lap 12/62 Hamilton, they reckon in comms, is looking to go as long as he can on his mediums, so that in the closing stages, he’ll have the fastest tyres. He’s 3.2s off the lead now, which is a helluva lot to make up but, on the other hand, we mustn’t forget he’s a genius.

Lap 11/62 Verstappen must reckon if he keeps it sensible, he’ll be hard to stop, a better driver than Leclerc, in a car that’s at least as good. The gap is 1.2s.

Lap 10/62 Bortoleto’s Audi is now in flames, so the pit-lane is closed which the fire is extinguished. Verstappen leads Leclerc by 0.8s with Hamilton a further 3.0s behind.

Lap 9/62 The VSC does one, which doesn’t help poor old Bortoletz, out again. Otherwise, the soft tyres seem to be the ones, given Hamilton and his mediums are dropping off.

Lap 8/62 Bearman’s overtake seems to have been legit, but poor old Bortoleto has been let down by his Audi again. He pulls over, and we’ve a virtual safety car situation … but the leader’s opt to not pit.

Lap 7/62 Verstappen’s sixth lap was the race’s fastest and he now leads by over a second. Back in fourth, Antonelli is taking it easy – relatively! – wanting to complete the race and draw closer to the title, rather than risk accident seeking a win he doesn’t need.

Lap 6/62 Ha, of course Leclerc immediately makes me look silly, recording a fastest lap, and he’s now 1.5s ahead of Hamilton; that’s some great work. Ah, but Verstappen saves me…

Lap 5/62 Bearman has been noted for further investigation after leaving the track when duelling with Ocon; Russell is now up to 15th. Meantime, back at the front, Verstappen’s lead has stabilised at 0.5s. I don’t see how Leclerc can get at him as long as the car sticks in.

Lap 4/62 Hamilton sets a fastest lap but is full second behind Leclerc in third -though, as I type, he trims that by a tenth. Unless he’s made a brilliant choice with his mediums, it’s hard to see how gets by Verstappen, even if he finds a way past Leclerc.

Lap 3/62 Russell is motoring, now up to 17th, while Bearman attacks his teammate, Ocon who started 16th and is now 11th. He gets past, then cedes the place again … then passes again! Bearman takes 11th, Ocon 12th while, at the front, the top six are pulling away – there’s 4.1s separating them, then another 2.7s to Lawson in seventh.

Lap 2/62 Antonelli chases Hamilton, while Hulkenberg has passed Bearman. Lawson is now eighth and, back at the front, Verstappen extends the gam from 0.4 to 0.6.

Lap 1/62 Leclerc is away quickly and is he passing Verstappen? Not quite, the door expertly shut, and the 1-2-3 is the same now as was when we started, while Norris couldn’t sneak by Antonelli.

Lights out and away we go!

If Antonelli outscores Russell by 12 points today, he can win the championship in Austin, Texas, the week after next.

Off goes the formation lap; Verstappen, Leclerc, Antonelli, Norris and Piastri are on softs, with Hamilto,n Gasly and Russell on mediums.

The engines fire up, the grid fully clears, and speed is almost upon us,

Verstappen, by the way, has never won this race.

The grid is emptying as we prepare to get going, and our experts are backing Verstappen. If he comes out of the first corner in front, he’ll be hard to catch.

Lando Norris thinks he has a shot, though the Ferraris will be tough. I’d be surprised, but we shall see.

Antonelli has an issue with his car – the brakes aren’t getting information, so it’s a sensor problem, apparently, and they’re taking stuff apart to replace it, on the grid, Those mechanics are earning their money today.

Anthem time…

Now Brundle tells Alonso he’s starting from the pitlane – presumably in case he was unaware, he’s good like that. Alonso airs him, I can’t think why.

Eileen Gu is in attendance. I can’t lie, I love her – and she’s coming soon to as Joy of Six near you – and I think Martin Brundle is charmed too, turning away because Antonelli is going past, then returning to apologise for not saying goodbye. Gu was, I’m sure, absolutely bereft.

Zak Brown of McLaren confirms he has had a stern one with his drivers after they go in each other’s way yesterday. “I didn’t say please,” he laughs. “It’s an order.”

Our race comprises 62 laps and the relatively long track means it’ll last roundabout two hours. It’s hot, too, meaning a proper physical struggle for our drivers.

Hamilton thinks he’s got a good car and has a good chance to put pressure on Verstappen. If he gets one of his starts, he can win this from the front.

Yet another way in which The Clash were visionaries.

Qualifying

1 Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 Red Bull 1:31.373
2 Charles Leclerc 🇲🇨 Ferrari 1:31.427
3 Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 Ferrari 1:31.496
4 Kimi Antonelli 🇮🇹 Mercedes 1:31.562
5 Lando Norris 🇬🇧 McLaren 1:31.712
6 George Russell 🇬🇧 Mercedes 1:31.712
7 Oscar Piastri 🇦🇺 McLaren 1:31.860
8 Pierre Gasly 🇫🇷 Alpine 1:32.225
9 Liam Lawson 🇳🇿 Racing Bulls 1:32.369
10 Arvid Lindblad 🇬🇧 Racing Bulls 1:32.781

Q2 eliminations
11 Nico Hülkenberg 🇩🇪 Audi 1:32.784
12 Oliver Bearman 🇬🇧 Haas 1:32.908
13 Esteban Ocon 🇫🇷 Haas 1:33.323
14 Carlos Sainz 🇪🇸 Williams 1:33.526
15 Gabriel Bortoleto 🇧🇷 Audi 1:33.658
16 Franco Colapinto 🇦🇷 Alpine 1:33.787

Q1 eliminations
17 Fernando Alonso 🇪🇸 Aston Martin 1:34.223
18 Alexander Albon 🇹🇭 Williams 1:34.289
19 Lance Stroll 🇨🇦 Aston Martin 1:34.946
20 Sergio Pérez 🇲🇽 Cadillac 1:35.123
21 Valtteri Bottas 🇫🇮 Cadillac 1:35.984
22 Isack Hadjar 🇫🇷 Red Bull no time

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