It's all go in the pit lane now. Lando Norris enters the pit lane and parks up - but it's a slightly slow stop once again. Not as pedestrian as other races, but still not as rapid as the Briton would've liked. Out he comes in fourth place.

Who is next for a change? It's Max Verstappen...

"Box this lap."

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

He always sounds slightly bored, doesn't he, Oscar on his radio communication. He's never stressed at all and it's like he's trying to do his homework or something and doesn't want to be disturbed.

Nico Hulkenberg has gained a place, as Lewis Hamilton is the next man to visit the pits after being told to lift and coast for a few laps. The seven-time world champion is now a soft runner and comes out ahead of Oscar Piastri. Hamilton is sixth, Piastri seventh.

With the title race so close, Oscar Piastri doesn't want to take any unnecessary risks, so the Australian heads into the pits to swap over onto the soft tyres. He comes out and rejoins the track in seventh place, behind the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg.

Engineer: "Russell is within undercut range. Would you prefer to pit first on to a soft or let him go and have a pass on track?"

Piastri: "Probably go first."

Yuki Tsunoda comes in to the Red Bull pits, as Charles Leclerc passes Oliver Bearman for seventh place. Oscar Piastri is given more information from his McLaren engineer: George Russell is within undercut range, so do you want to pit first, or battle it out on track? Let's see what the Australian has chosen...

Engineer: "Thoughts on softs to get to the end from here?"

Piastri: "I think difficult from here."

Image source, Getty Images

Title leader Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, is being asked if can he extend his stint a little bit longer on his medium tyres. The Australian isn't sure and thinks it might be a struggle.

Jennie Gow
F1 pit-lane reporter in Austin

Not much movement at the moment on the pit wall. I have spoken to Pirelli, they do think Leclerc is going to try and get to the end on the medium tyres. It's just a waiting game for everyone, just seeing how much life they can eek out of their tyres before they change on to those soft tyres. That's the hope.

Max Verstappen's radio message doesn't trigger a pit stop for the Red Bull driver, though, and he stays out as other teams call their drivers in.

Verstappen: "Tyres are becoming a little bit tricky."

Engineer: "We think the conditions are changing a little bit here, Max."

Max is having a nice Sunday, Damon. The Dutchman is ahead of Lando Norris' McLaren by 10.6 seconds, with the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton in third place. Verstappen does need to call into base however, as he says his medium tyres, which have been on since the start, are feeling a bit tricky.

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

Max is having quite a nice Sunday isn't he? He is out there on his own, he has not had trouble from anyone. But probably watching the gap, he will have to watch Lando. I am very interested in the second half of the race to see the true pace, the relative pace between the two cars. Lando has got a great opportunity to really improve his chances in the world championship to close the gap. There's still a long way to go.

Now Charles Leclerc is on the rear wing of Nico Hulkenberg on the back straight and the German thinks it's pointless trying to fight with the Ferrari on new tyres - on you go, Charles, and take eighth place. Next target for Leclerc is the Haas of rookie Ollie Bearman for seventh.

Esteban Ocon comes into the pits and swaps over to the medium compound for his next stint, rejoining the field in 19th place. Charles Leclerc isn't lighting up the timing screen just yet on his fresh rubber and he's still ninth place, behind the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg in eighth.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

Interesting that the Ferraris have chosen the medium tyres for the second stint. You would think Leclerc got the softs quite a long way, you would think he would go on the hards and get to the end of the race. On the medium, does he think he can get that to the end? Does that mean the mediums can keep going on the front runners or is Leclerc going to have to do a two-stop?

Jeremiah: McLaren's advantage on DRS and raw pace seems to be gone completely. Norris struggled to overtake Leclerc lap after lap. Give it to Charles for the great defensive driving. Meanwhile, Verstappen has disappeared way ahead.

The gap out in front is 11 seconds - Max Verstappen now leading the McLaren of Lando Norris. Lewis Hamilton is up into the podium places but can he stay there for his first visit to the rostrum in Ferraro red?

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

We're going to find out the true pace of the McLaren now. It was very timely that he got past Leclerc, because if he had come out, the pit stop is about 22 seconds, he would have come out behind Tsunoda. Now he gets ahead and gets some clear air, he can move up the field if he does pit. I reckon he will wait for the guys behind to pit.