Richard Cassidy: Don’t see how Merc can beat Red Bull on a long strategy because Red Bull are just flat out faster. Hamilton on a soft at the end might be quick but not likely to make up a 10-20sec gap and overtake Ver.

quixoticgeek: That RBR pit stop was a gift to Mercedes.

Red Bull have readied themselves again; here comes Max Verstappen. The stop is much cleaner than Checo's and the race leader comes out in third spot, ahead of the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz.

My left front is dead guys.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

George Russell is net ahead of Sergio Perez but can he pit any time on the mediums? If so he will have to go to a hard tyre.

We know Lewis Hamilton loves to ask about his tyres and the Mercedes man can breathe a sigh of relief as his engineer tells him his medium rubber is OK.

A Red Bull is coming into the pits. It's Max... wait. It's Sergio Perez. The Mexican goes onto the mediums but the stop is a slow one. Perez comes out into sixth spot.

Left front doesn't want to turn.

We're flying through these laps in Mexico but there's still a long way to go. Another message of anguish from Max Verstappen about his soft tyres. The front-left is looking tired.

Quite clear loss of pace from Max Verstappen. It won't be long before they stop. Might go very long.

Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 Live pit-lane reporter

Only the top six drivers have two sets of medium tyres. All the other drivers have one set. If this turns into a two stop race then they will be forced into using tyres they don't want to.

The soft tyres Max Verstappen started this Mexico City Grand Prix on from pole position are starting to drop off now, says the two-time world champion.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

The problem is the Ferraris are not quick enough to clear the front runners. Fernando Alonso was actually quicker than Charles Leclerc on the last lap. Ferraris are barely quicker than the midfielders in this grand prix. there is no pace for either of their cars.

A Mercedes radio message for George Russell: it won't be long until we see the Red Bull of Max Verstappen box, boxing.

Max Verstappen picks up a purple stopwatch next to his name as the Dutch driver is aiming to grab that 14th win of the season. Lewis Hamilton is second, the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez is third and George Russell, after starting in second place, is running in fourth.

Image source, Getty Images

Leclerc: "Consider plan C, we have nothing to lose."

Ferrari: "We need to be careful with traffic with that plan."

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

Max Verstappen is not struggling too much, the gap is just starting to extend. Two seconds now for the first time in the grand prix. Sergio Perez has regrouped while George Russell has the pace of his team-mate but with a Red Bull in the way.

I think the bouncing is the same for everyone.

Alphabet time over at Ferrari and Charles Leclerc wants to just go for it as they have "nothing to lose." His engineer exercises caution with that idea.

Tom: Hats off to Red Bull they have made a car that works at every track, Ferrari on the other hand.

The Aston Martin of Lance Stroll is the first driver to come into the pits. Soft tyres are now bolted on to the Canadian's car.