• Romain Grosjean, Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg suffer a big crash on the opening lap, as Grosjean spun across the track and a safety car was deployed.
• Kimi Raikkonen, who was second, retires on lap 27 with a lack of power.
• Esteban Ocon is the fifth retirement, suffering an engine failure on lap 40. Max Verstappen runs into the back of Lance Stroll during the resulting virtual safety car period but the Dutchman is still able to continue despite front wing damage.
• Stoffel Vandoorne suffers a power issue and stops on the 47th lap.
• Lewis Hamilton has a 17-second lead over team-mate Valtteri Bottas. All of the top nine have pitted once, apart from Sebastian Vettel in fourth, who has pitted twice.

"Dark clouds at Turn 3," says Fernando Alonso, who is willing rain to come. He's told nothing likely any time soon.

Alonso is currently eighth and firmly on course for a fifth successive finish in the points.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Ray Singfan: Great drives so far from Hamilton and Bottas. Poor strategy from Ferrari and god knows what Verstappen is doing.

Simon Baker‏: This is not the first time Ferrari have made a strategic error in a Grand Prix, remember Canada 2016? Pitting Vettel unnecessarily.

Romain Grosjean has now removed the helmet and is now leaning on the wall at the back of the Haas garage watching the race.

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, is trundling along quite comfortably out in front with his lead over Valtteri Bottas 17 seconds.

Jack Nicholls
Radio 5 live sports extra Formula 1 commentator

This is one of those commanding performances from Hamilton that we are used to seeing over the years.

Image source, Reuters

Sebastian Vettel is two seconds behind Max Verstappen in third but could soon start to really gain on the Red Bull. His last lap was a mighty seven tenths quicker than Verstappen's.

Clouds continue to threaten at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Image source, Getty Images

ChrisH: To win a championship, Ferrari need to be at least a second a lap quicker than Mercedes. Fact is Ferrari and Vettel both lack the composure under pressure that Mercedes have in abundance. It will cost them 30+ points a season.

Eme Tê: Red Bull one stop strategy might pay off, well.

Rachel T: Five races in and the first retirement for McLaren in 2018. I can't quite decide whether that is progress or not.

Valtteri Bottas going well, despite that message of encouragement to Max Verstappen about his tyres. He was fastest of all through the first sector but a slower final sector denied him a personal best.

Max Verstappen is told over team radio: "A reminder there is still a long way to go in this race and you know about Valtteri Bottas' tyre issue."

Verstappen is third and 10 seconds behind Bottas.

Image source, Reuters

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

We only have 14 left. Sergio Perez in 10th, Lance Stroll 11th and Marcus Ericsson in 12th can sense getting some points now.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Thomas Knights: Ferrari can not keep up with Verstappen with newer tyres and a damaged red bull. Embarrassing from Ferrari today. Lewis will be laughing.

Jeremiah Kariuki‏: Max Verstappen has not learnt his lessons. He hits a Williams car. That will be a loss for him.

Another car pulls over to the side of the track and it's Stoffel Vandoorne's McLaren.

"I lost drive," he says glumly. That's retirement number six of the race.

He was second, but Kimi Raikkonen's race ended early. Listen again to our commentary as the Finn's race is done.

The top five looks like this at the moment:

1) Hamilton

2) Bottas +14.829

3) Verstappen +10.7

4) Vettel +1.6

5) Ricciardo 18.7

• Romain Grosjean, Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg suffered a big crash on the opening lap, which saw Grosjean spin across the track and a safety car deployed.
• Kimi Raikkonen, who was second, retires on lap 27 with a lack of power.
• Esteban Ocon is the fifth retirement, suffering an engine failure on lap 40. Max Verstappen runs into the back of Lance Stroll during the resulting virtual safety car period but is still able to continue.
• Lewis Hamilton has a 15-second lead over team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Shocker from Verstappen. He drove into the back of him (Sirotkin) under the virtual safety car. He had got himself into a great position but his front wing is hanging off.

Image source, Getty Images

What's Max Verstappen doing here!? He clipped the rear of Sergey Sirotkin under the safety car and has a bit of front wing hanging off.

"Structurally the wing is fine, so if you are happy with the balance, all good," Verstappen is told.

He gets away with that one.

Fernando Alonso gobbles up Charles Leclerc straight from the restart, pinching eighth from the youngster.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Ferrari have basically gambled. It is difficult to overtake and that is what it is going to depend on.