A brave McLaren engineer sends some instructions Fernando Alonso's way: "Please avoid short shift - third to fourth. Please avoid short shift - third to fourth. Thank you".

Alonso: "WHERE AM I DOING THAT?!"

Told you he was brave...

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton may as well be oblivious to what's going on behind him. The Briton has a heft lead out in front, but hasn't pitted yet.

Sebastian Vettel is picking off targets like a cowboy at a shooting gallery. Next in his sights is Kevin Magnussen and the Ferrari takes him at the final chicane to move into eighth.

The fresh rubber does its job as Fernando Alonso can do nothing about Sergio Perez breezing past and into fourth.

Esteban Ocon currently third, but he's on ultra-softs that are 21 laps old. He's going to have to pit soon but Force India looking pretty good for a shot at a podium place here...

Sergio Perez has softs bolted on and is back out behind Daniel Ricciardo in sixth.

Fernando Alonso is now up fourth, but he hasn't pitted yet.

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel Ricciardo pits from third and he's onto softs. The Red Bull going to the end of the race.

The Australian is back out in sixth.

Now Sergio Perez pits...

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Rex Features

Felipe Massa speaking to Tom Clarkson on 5 live: "A very frustrating day for me. I was very optimistic about the speed and the car and then suddenly my race finished like that.

"I was the only car he hit! I thought someone had lost his breaks but just saw in TV and I have nothing to say really.

"I just felt someone hit at a really quick speed and it's just disappointing."

Kimi Raikkonen has a set of super-softs bolted on and is back out in seventh, behind - get this - Fernando Alonso. It might not last, but great to see the Spaniard up in the top six.

Kimi Raikkonen is coming into the pits. Ferrari hoping to get the undercut on Sergio Perez here...

Image source, Reuters

So at the front of the pack it is Lewis Hamilton who leads from Valtteri Bottas and Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian has made up three places to climb into the podium places.

Sebastian Vettel is currently working his way up through the field. He's 13th at the moment.

Daniil Kvyat has been given a drive through penalty for failing to regain his position before the safety car line on the formation lap. The Russian is currently 11th.

Rachel T: I'm sorry but we are howling with laughter at the slapstick marshalls!

The virtual safety car period has ended and we are back racing again.

Meanwhile, this will please the home fans. Canadian Lance Stroll has just swooped around the outside of Stoffel Vandoorne and is up into 10th.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen made a lightning start, as Torro Rosso's Carlos Sainz and Williams' Filipe Massa's crash brings out the safety car.

Ten laps later, Verstappen's race was over.

John Watson
Former F1 driver

That's a shame for Max Verstappen - it was a great start and a great move in the first lap.

Christian Horner's face on the pit wall says it all. He is devastated for him.

The marshals are rolling Max Verstappen's Red Bull towards an escape road and it's causing them a bit of bother, a couple of them tumbling as they push it down the side of the circuit.

There's a cap on the circuit. I repeat, cap on the circuit.

Somehow, someone's Ferrari baseball cap has found its way onto the circuit.

That will be worth a bob or two now.

Max Verstappen's retirement means both McLaren's are in the top 10. Oh it's on.

John Watson
Former F1 driver

It's the ideal start for Hamilton - his closest contender in the championship, Sebastian Vettel is right down in 18th place.

The virtual safety car is deployed as Max Verstappen clambers over a barrier and disappears into some bushes. He'll be absolutely gutted.