Sergio Perez has taken the reins of this Miami Grand Prix but the Mexican is on hard tyres that are 25 laps old, while Max Verstappen is fresh as a daisy on yellow mediums.

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Fernando Alonso dropped his podium run in Baku after a tricky weekend for Aston Martin with DRS issues but the Spaniard is still running in third spot.

Max Verstappen is into the pits. Medium tyres are strapped on.

Engineer: "Just give us some tyre feedback."

Russell: "Yeah, they're alright, been better, been worse."

For a starting grid that promised so much, this Miami Grand Prix hasn't really lived up to the pre-race hype. The top-five order is Verstappen, Perez, Alonso, Russell and Sainz.

Matthew: Where's the rain we were promised? I'm beginning to think we need more races at proper circuits and not these Street Circuits.

The track position is looking healthy for Max Verstappen when the time to come in and changeover is finally called.

One driver who is in already is the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll, who is in and out without any grumbles.

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The advantage Max Verstappen holds over his team-mate is 18 seconds as the Dutchman sails out in front on those hard tyres that have been bolted on since the opening lap.

Engineer: "No need to kill the tyres. The overtake on Valtteri will help."

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

This has been an absolute power move from Verstappen. He's stayed out on the harder tyres and he's lapping quicker.

He will come out so close to Perez, he will make mincemeat of him on the newer tyres.

Lewis Hamilton has no time to waste and needs to make his move before the end of the lap. He's battling his old team-mate Valtteri Bottas and the Alpine of Esteban Ocon and shows his experiencing by dispatching them both to take 10th place.

Jeremiah Kariuki: It is now Perez versus Verstappen! And the race procession already started.

Catriona: I wonder what's up with Leclerc's Ferrari? Since it's supposed to be a low deg circuit presumably it can't be the usual reason given of the Ferraris being harder on their tyres.

George Russell is on a roll, so the Mercedes driver sings on the radio. The Briton is to into fourth place.

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Take two for Charles Leclerc at Turn 17. DRS open for the Monegasque driver and the Haas is finally put to bed. Leclerc now occupies ninth place on the leaderboard.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

Ferrari are not having a good race on the hard tyres. Sainz is dropping away quite quickly from Alonso, and he's being reeled in by George Russell.

Christian Hewgill
Pitlane reporter

This weekend the wind has been a factor on the slippery, re-laid surface. Every evening the wind has risen - if it gets heavier as the tyres get more worn, it will become more tricky for the drivers to keep it on the track and we know how close the walls are.

Charles Leclerc, polesitter in Miami last year, gains a spot to P10 on Kevin Magnussen at Turn 17. No bother for the Haas driver, as he grabs the place back as soon as the pair reach the safety of Turn One.

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Max Verstappen clocks another fastest lap but the Dutchman is yet to come into the pits as he started on the hard tyres.

Behind the frontrunners, Yuki Tsunoda has moved his Alpha Tauri from 17th on the grid up to eighth place.

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David Mateer: I'd say Max pit window is lap 37ish.

"He [George] can go by but I'm not backing off."

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

4. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

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