Quite a few drivers now are highlighting issues with front tyres, and McLaren radio in to Lando Norris to say it's looking more like Plan B now. The Briton started on the mediums in second but lost out to Charles Leclerc at the exit of Turn One on the opening lap.

Kimi Antonelli has dropped down to 18th place after the contact with Carlos Sainz but now the rookie is banking quick laps on his medium rubber.

"Concerned about the front left, doesn't look or feel great."

The rest of the top 10 is occupied by the Haas of Oliver Bearman in eighth, Nico Hulkenberg in ninth and Yuki Tsunoda doing a fine job in the other Red Bull in seventh. Fernando Alonso, who was taken out during the mess of the first corner in the sprint, is in the final points place in 10th.

Image source, Getty Images

We're racing again and Max Verstappen leads from Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. The Red Bull man is two seconds up the road from the Ferrari driver on those soft tyres.

Carlos Sainz has made his way back to the paddock to watch the rest of the action from the Williams garage.

Alex Albon has come into the pits to make a stop, swapping his hard tyres for mediums following his contact with Gabriel Bortoleto. His Williams team-mate Carlos Sainz is out of this United States Grand Prix. The marshals are clearing up the last of the debris, as the VSC comes to an end...

"Sorry, guys. Antonelli just turned in there in the end."

Antonelli: "He took me out."

Engineer: "Yes, saw that, mate."

Antonelli: "What a ******* idiot."

Yellow flagpublished at 20:16 BST

20:16 BST

Lap 7/56

The Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli was hit by the Williams of Carlos Sainz, which sent him spinning off the circuit. Sainz has parked up to the side and is climbing out of his stricken car.

Sainz and Antonelli were scrapping at Turn 15 and as the Spaniard tried his luck on the inside, he tagged Antonelli's rear wheel and sent the rookie into the gravel.

Virtual safety car is deployed.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

We don't know whether Norris can beat Verstappen on pace for this race but he needs to get past Leclerc to find out. One of the things McLaren have had an advantage with this season is long-run performance, keeping the tyres in better shape. We don't know whether that is the case now Red Bull have upgraded their car.

Image source, Getty Images

Isack Hadjar has already been handed a black and white flag for track limits - the Racing Bulls driver is driving a fine line now. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli looks to be in trouble. The Italian is off the track around Turn 15.

Charles Leclerc is continuing to defend from the onslaught of Lando Norris but how long can his soft tyres survive this battering? Norris is playing the waiting game, looking for the right moment to strike on his medium tyres.

This fight, however, is holding up the rest of the field. Lewis Hamilton in fourth is now being caught by the other McLaren of championship leader Oscar Piastri.

Jennie Gow
F1 pit-lane reporter in Austin

As predicted if you start on the soft it is likely you'll have to do a two-stop. It's predicted by Pirelli that it will last 12 to 18 laps. Keep an eye out to see if Leclerc comes in before that. That means degradation is higher than expected

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen is clocking fastest laps as he leads this United States Grand Prix from pole position. Charles Leclerc is 2.7 seconds behind in second but the McLaren is gaining on the back straight. Can Lando Norris catch him this time? Denied. Leclerc stays ahead.

Lando Norris is trying to hound out Charles Leclerc around Turn 12 but the Ferrari driver is keeping the McLaren at bay and holding on to that second place... for now. Norris has the pace to possibly pick off Leclerc sooner rather than later.

Image source, Getty Images

Oscar Piastri is up to fifth from sixth and is chasing down Lewis Hamilton for fourth place. But the Ferrari man has DRS on his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, who is now running in third spot after a tough start off the line.

Alex Albon had contact with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto on the opening lap and race control is going to have a look.

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

It was a terrific start from Charles Leclerc, he used the extra grip, he went round the outside of Lando. He actually managed to pull it off. Lando has now lost a place.

Here we go!

Max Verstappen holds the lead out of Turn One but Charles Leclerc on those softs tyres has hassled Lando Norris already - and the Ferrari has nicked second place! The McLaren driver is down to third, as Lewis Hamilton has also gained a place and is now fourth.

George Russell has fallen to sixth, as double yellows wave. They're quickly cleared - that could've been for Alex Albon, who has dropped to 20th - and we're racing again.

I don't think my fingers could take another carnage race, Toto.

Max Verstappen is crawling to his grid spot at the front of the field followed closely by Lando Norris, the uphill climb to Turn One looming large.

Here we go then. Who leads out of the first corner? Place your bets now.

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is such a spectacular event. So many people and hopefully we have a good race. You'd rather start at the front and have clean air, it is always the fastest pace but we are where we are and hopefully we can recover a few places at the start.

"If it is ahead of us, the carnage, I like it."

Andrew: Even without what happened during yesterday’s sprint race start, Piastri will need to be tentative on lap one today. To hold station and remain unscathed is the priority rather than making up early places. Another DNF would open the door completely to Lando and Max.