Hmm, did Fernando Alonso work his tyres too much in the early stages of this race? Lando Norris is looking faster than him and the McLaren is loitering for a move...

The Ferraris didn't have the best of starts and they have work to do to get into the podium battle. Charles Leclerc is seventh with Carlos Sainz eighth.

Lewis Hamilton is on the move now as he sweeps past Kevin Magnussen as he continues his climb and the Mercedes driver is up into 17th with Yuki Tsunoda next his sights.

"Looks like Alonso is pushing the tyres a lot more than us. This is good."

Sergio Perez was chomping chunks out of Fernando Alonso's time and Alonso is no fool, he knows his race is not with the Red Bulls and he hardly puts up a fight as Perez passes him into second.

Alonso will, however, fancy his chances of holding off the McLarens for third.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

My eyes are firmly on Fernando Alonso, how do Aston Martin now play this? He's out of position pretty much from where his car should be up in second place, remarkable stuff. But then the cars around him Norris, Perez, Piastri and the Ferraris, how do [Aston Martin] play this, do they try and undercut him, do they try and go longer, that will be the key phase of the race, probably lap 16-20.

Being in the middle of two Red Bulls is a tricky place to be but Fernando Alonso is holding his own so far. If he can manage his tyres well then surely a podium is on for him here.

Lewis Hamilton finally starts moving in a positive direction as he passes Zhou Guanyu to get back up into 18th. Plenty more work to do, however.

Hamilton: "I'm making no ground with this tyre"

Max Verstappen is rapidly disappearing off into the distance with his advantage out in front now 2.2 seconds.

A strong first lap by George Russell as he gained a couple of places to jump from eighth to sixth. The McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are ahead of him.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

Fantastic start by Fernando Alonso, firing those medium compound tyres up, absolutely perfectly off the start-line.

Great start by Fernando Alonso and a great start by Max Verstappen - he's already 1.4 seconds ahead of the Aston Martin.

Lewis Hamilton, however, lost a place at the start and he is down to 19th.

Image source, Getty Images

LIGHTS OUT!

It is a fantastic start by Fernando Alonso as he gets the better of Sergio Perez at the first corner and he is up to second!

Ian Fergusson
BBC weather forecaster

Air temp 18.8C & the track 31.3C. Wind is fairly light today & from the north. Dry under extensive cloud; FIA official risk of rain is 10% to cater for low likelihood of any spots of rain later in race window.

Jeremiah Kariuki: It is quite clear, the 1-2 will be Red Bulls and Max going for the win. Perez will not challenge him for that. Ferrari will work their way up. P3 to P6 a good fight between the Ferraris, McLarens and Alonso. Mercedes can only fancy to be in there!

Away goes the field for the formation lap.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's unlike Lewis to make mistakes, he's pretty mistake free being one of the best drivers of all time, but he's out of position and he will make it interesting for us to watch. I think he will still score points today but how many, I don't know.

It is mediums for the majority of the field today but Lewis Hamilton, Logan Sargeant - who is starting from the pit lane - Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda have gone for softs. Kevin Magnussen is the only driver to opt for the hard compound of tyre.

The official risk of rain is 10% but Max Verstappen thinks there are a few drops appearing already...