Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

Sainz was a little bit late on the way into the first corner with that lock up, out of position for the exit and Verstappen getting the up and under on the exit through into the lead.

Red Bull moves are being completed all over the track!

Sergio Perez finally gets his man - without the pair leaving the track - and is now up into fourth place, with George Russell down into fifth spot.

Image source, Getty Images

Sergio Perez has given the place back to George Russell but the drama is at the front!

Carlos Sainz locks up as Max Verstappen fights for the lead! A few corners later the battle between the two has a new champion - the Red Bull man!

Verstappen has ticked the first target off the list on what could be a record-breaking day.

Image source, Getty Images

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's interesting because we are so used to them (Red Bull) having this enormous top speed but the DRS effect is way less here because everyone's trimmed their downforce out anyway, so the rear wings are skinny, normally you have thick rear wings so when you flap it open it gives you a huge benefit but here we are not seeing that.

Hang on! Both Sergio Perez and George Russell have gone off the track. The Red Bull is now in front of the Mercedes and says Russell "pushed him off".

George Russell, on the mediums, tells Mercedes the undercut will be powerful at Monza.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, once again, clocks the fastest lap of the Italian Grand Prix.

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Ashic: Sainz keeping Verstappen at bay somehow for 10 laps. What's the point? It's Ferrari. They'll lose it in pits stops. Or strategy. Or steward calls.

Charles Leclerc is desperately trying to keep pace with the top two but the Monegasque driver is finding it a chore to stay in the hunt.

Pierre Gasly is the first man to make a pit stop. The Frenchman comes in to switch over to the hard tyres.

Both Red Bulls are trying to make a move on cars in front of them. Sergio Perez pounces on the Mercedes of George Russell but sorry, Checo, no dice this time. Russell stays in fourth, Perez in fifth.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

For the first time, Verstappen sounding slightly concerned about the Ferrari.

Max Verstappen is told by his engineer that Carlos Sainz is struggling with the rear... a lot. But the Spaniard is not showing any signs of distress just yet and is still ahead of the Red Bull by half a second.

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The nerves must be shredding for Carlos Sainz. The all-conquering Red Bull of Max Verstappen is creeping closer and closer to his Ferrari. Is this the lap the Dutchman goes for the race lead? No. Verstappen keeps his cards close to his chest for a bit longer.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

That was nice from Carlos Sainz, he really did defend Verstappen - he fought it really hard. He didn't need to do that, he could have had an easy pass up towards the second chicane but maybe he thought he would have a little bit of fun.

The Mercedes of George Russell is not too far down the road of the from three but the Mercedes driver has Sergio Perez in fifth on his silver tail.

Lewis Hamilton has been unable to pass Lando Norris and is still running in ninth spot.

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The chase is on between Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard is under pressure from the reigning world champion but Sainz is the smooth operator, so surely he can hang onto the lead Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc in third is still in the mix.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Sainz and Ferrari's best chance, if they have a chance today, is just to save those tyres, go fairly steadily through the corners, particularly through the middle sector.

"He's already sliding a bit so it's all OK."

Max Verstappen has the slipstream and DRS on Carlos Sainz. Can he pass the Ferrari? No! Carlos Sainz defends for his life and cuts off the threat of the Red Bull trying to go around the outside.

"That was naughty," says Verstappen on the team radio.

On the flip side: "Good move," says Sainz's engineer.

Image source, Getty Images

Sho: Did Albon just get past Piastri without DRS? Wow.

Nico Hulkenberg has moved up into the points and in 10th place but Fernando Alonso has slipped to P11 in his Aston Martin. Liam Lawson is holding firm in the Alpha Tauri in 12th spot.