We're under way and after just a few corners there's contact at the front - Kimi Raikkonen has gone into the wall and there's also a problem for Valtteri Bottas too. The Mercedes driver is going to need a new nose.

Daniel Ricciardo has also been involved there.

'The Chain' rumbles into life over on 5 live so that can only mean one thing - the cars are off.

One lap to get some heat into those tyres and then away we go.

Engines firing up.

The formation lap will be under way any moment.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Strategy? A one stop is such a gimme that tyre supplier Pirelli did not even list any other possible strategies on its permutations document. Start on the super-soft and change to the soft probably anywhere between 12 and 22 laps. Or perhaps the other way around if you are outside the top 10. Although tyre degradation is low enough that the first stints could be even longer. Will stopping before a driver you are racing be an advantage or a disadvantage? As in Canada and Monaco, either might work, but the problems with tyre warm-up probably push it towards the ‘over-cut’ - running longer. The unknown is safety cars. Last year, chaos was predicted after crash-strewn GP2 races but a humdrum grand prix passed without incident. This year, the renamed Formula Two races have again been incident-packed, but is it any more likely that the grand prix will feature any drama? “The race is going be very long and demanding,” said McLaren’s Fernando Alonso- and he was not referring solely to his position at the back in car lagging 100bhp behind the best. “We saw many mistakes from all of us and we need to make sure we stay out of the wall.”

Darren Thompson: Can't imagine this is going to be complicated for Hamilton. Ferrari will be an interesting watch today.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

A defining moment in Lance Stroll’s career arose on Saturday when he out-qualified Williams team-mate Felipe Massa for the first time in his debut season. Never mind that it was by just 0.045secs, and that the Brazilian said he had struggled with tyre temperature, a result is a result, especially after his uncompetitive form so far.

It comes two weeks after a solid drive to ninth at the 18-year-old’s home race in Canada and a consequent boost in confidence, as well as, according to Stroll, a return to a set-up more akin to one he was using earlier in the season (and Massa’s), and with which he felt more comfortable. But that came from a private test in Austin in the week following the Montreal race in a 2014 car - a luxury not afforded less well-heeled rookies.

Chief technical officer Paddy Lowe said: "They did a few experiments with set-up, looking at some of the differences between his set-up and Felipe's set-up, and some of that's been brought forward here and I think it's put him in a much better place."

Just a little nudge to remind you our 5 live commentary team are already chattering away ahead of this race.

You can listen in to Tom Clarkson, Allan McNish and Jennie Gow using the audio tab at the top of this page.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

From sixth and seventh on the grid, the Force Indias of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon could be on for another strong result in Baku. Two weeks ago in Canada, they spent the race stuck behind Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull and then allowed their intra-team fight to boil over to the extent that they were vulnerable to Sebastian Vettel’s fight back. They start right behind Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, which is clearly quicker, but lags a little on top-end power. With the Williams cars right behind the Force Indias, too, that little battle could get quite tasty.

They love a famous face in the Red Bull garage.

Mega diva Mariah Carey is the latest A-lister to stop by.

She was also just speaking to Jennie Gow on Radio 5 live...

"This is my first experience of Formula 1 - it's not great for these shoes but it's great to bring my son, Rocky here as he has these memories. He met two drivers earlier and was filming it on his [generic tablet] and was very impressed. I will be performing later so I am very excited."

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen was frustrated and pleased at the same time after taking fifth on the grid in the Red Bull. Frustrated because he had been quick all weekend and he felt had it not been for a top-end engine problem that required a slight de-tune and a gear synchronisation issue on his final lap, he would have been third.

He said the team needed to “get on top” of the recurring reliability problems that were affecting his season, “because it shouldn't happen.” But on the plus side, a Renault upgrade worth 0.2secs and the refinement of the aerodynamic upgrade introduced in Spain is ensuring significant progress.

“You can see there is a bit more horsepower, that's good, but we always want more. We definitely made a step forward here, with all the long straights. Second sector, where all corners are, we are in the fight - so that's good. "We are again up close to Ferrari, or even in front. We expected difficulties on this track, so we can be happy with the performance of the car.”

Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

"This is a proper street track. These walls are ready to catch them out at all times."

Our radio chums at 5 live have been strolling around Baku today and have snapped these pics.

I hope the marshals are careful with that crane around those ancient walls.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

LA Matthews: Calling this now: Hamilton Bottas Verstappen. Vettel's old engine to bang on lap 12

Alex Withington: Will there be a safety car? How long will Alonso's engine last? On which lap will Grosjean moan about his brakes? Key questions today

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, EPA

Saturday did not look great for Ferrari - yes, Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel locked out the second row, with the Mercedes just ahead of them, but they were more than a second off the pace. But Sebastian Vettel was talking positively after qualifying on Saturday. They might not have had the Mercedes’ pace, on Saturday, he said, but he expected to have it on Sunday. He was likely thinking of the race runs on Friday, when he was a good half-seconds quicker than Valtteri Bottas on the super-soft tyre. But that was Friday, when Mercedes were struggling and by Saturday they patently were not. How the cars will match up in the race remains an unknown.