Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

This is where the fight is brewing, less than a second between Oscar Piastri just behind George Russell with the two Ferraris tucked in neatly behind.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It certainly seems that Oscar Piastri has the pace over George Russell and his Mercedes car right now. This battle I think is going to go all the way to the end.

Oscar Piastri making that swift move on Ferrari could be crucial in the constructors' title battle. He is fourth with team-mate Lando Norris second.

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen clocks the fastest lap as he increases his advantage over Lando Norris to 1.477s.

Image source, Getty Images

Both Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto are out of the race after that first-lap collision.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That's great news for McLaren fans, both McLarens now ahead of both Ferraris, that's exactly what they wanted from the race this evening.

It was Liam Lawson who went off as he tried to get past Valtteri Bottas but no major drama and he's back on the track in 18th.

Further up the field and Oscar Piastri made a good start after the restart, producing a great move down the outside of Charles Leclerc to go fourth.

We're back racing again with the debris all cleared up.

Max Verstappen is able to fend off any attack from Lando Norris and opens up a bit of a gap, but already we've got cars off the track again!

Image source, Getty Images

Rosanna Tennant
5 Live F1 reporter in Qatar

This is going to be a critical getaway for the two McLaren drivers, Lando Norris needs to be right there with Max Verstappen.

Race control has noted the incident involving Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It was a shocking getaway from Lewis Hamilton [at the race start], a really really slow getaway, it looks like a really under engaged mapping there that caused that.

"I got massively hit by Stroll."

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, started sixth but is down in ninth after a poor start.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

Nico Hulkenberg perhaps involved in that incident, he's got a puncture on his rear left tyre.

Looks like Nico Hulkenberg, who started on hard tyres, just lost the rear of his car and ended up hitting Esteban Ocon, who then clipped Franco Colapinto.

Lance Stroll and Alex Albon also made contact in that chaotic start.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Amazing start from Lando Norris, we thought he'd done it going through Turn One but Max Verstappen fought back brilliantly. Who said that the dirty side of the grid was going to hold him back? It certainly didn't.

The safety car is out after both those two cars collided.

Lando Norris almost snuck into the lead himself but Max Verstappen just managed to defend his position going through Turn Two. The McLaren is into second but hang on! Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto have collided!

Image source, Reuters

It is lights out!

Great start by Max Verstappen, he gets through the inside of George Russell and he is into the lead!

Image source, Getty Images

Everyone is lined up in their place on the grid. We are all good to go.

Almost time for lights out...