And Lewis Hamilton is quick - very quick. The Mercedes is on the charge and eyeing up an overtake on Max Verstappen...

The was a bit of a mess from Ferrari. Carlos Sainz does finally come in for a pit stop for another set of hard tyres but he's now behind Lewis Hamilton and trailing the Mercedes by three seconds.

Hamilton is fourth and Sainz is fifth.

Sainz: "What happened?"

Engineer: "We were not ready"

Sainz: "Wake up guys, come on!"

What happened over at Ferrari? Carlos Sainz looked to be coming in after being told to swap positions with team-mate Charles Leclerc - Lewis Hamilton was right in the middle, too. Sainz was heading into to to the pits but a late call to stay out meant he had to cut the final corner after bailing out late.

Hamilton and Verstappen did come in to pit, however.

Image source, Reuters

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I'm surprised that Carlos Sainz didn't allow Charles Leclerc to go past at the end of the Strip there because it's causing both of them damage, clearly Sainz has not got the pace and that has allowed Lewis Hamilton storm up to the back of them once again.

"Let's get off these tyres"

Carlos Sainz is making strategy calls from the cockpit. The Spaniard wants to come in for a change of tyres and tells his pit wall to "box me now".

Williams team principal James Vowles is on the radio to Alex Albon - and it's not good news. He needs come in and retire the car. Albon's day is over.

The fastest lap goes to Lewis Hamilton and now the Mercedes man is searching for a way to try hunt down future team-mate Charles Leclerc for fourth place.

Image source, Getty Images

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Lewis Hamilton looks a lot more comfortable in his Mercedes, he's just set another fastest overall first sector out of anybody.

In the fight for sixth in the constructors', RB's Yuki Tsunoda is running in seventh and Nico Hulkenberg in the Haas in ninth. With Pierre Gasly out of the action, Esteban Ocon will need some some luck to get in the points from P15.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The Ferrari drivers have been told which plan they are sticking to and that has clearly released some energy into them and has abled them to go even quicker, they have both set personal bests.

"The front right looks like it's about to go any lap"

Lando Norris is on the McLaren radio to flag issues with his front tyres and also wants to know if team-mate Oscar Piastri is suffering the same problem.

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, is admiring the straight-line speed of other cars in front him.

Image source, Reuters

1. George Russell (Mercedes)

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes

Image source, Getty Images

George Russell is still out in front by nine seconds, with soon-to-be four-time world champion Max Verstapen - unless something crazy happens in the next part of this race - just behind in second.

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren CEO Zak Brown tells Sky Sports from the pit wall that his cars just don't have the pace tonight to challenge the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes. Brown is hoping the Silver Arrows can help them out in the constructors' championship by keeping their rivals at bay. "Go Lewis Go!" says Brown.

Carlos Sainz wants to know what the plan is over at Ferrari, because it could change everything. The Spaniard is third, one place higher than his team-mate and chasing down Max Verstappen for second spot.

Image source, Getty Images

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Lewis Hamilton's pace is incredible, nine-tenths quicker than George Russell, he could be tyre saving but he's 1.5 seconds quicker than Max Verstappen who is sitting in second place.

Such a disappointment for Pierre Gasly. A stellar qualifying yesterday for the Frenchman following his podium finish in Sao Paulo has turned in to an early retirement on Las Vegas race day.