F1 Imola GP live commentary and updates - race

Unwitnessed by the TV cameras, Russell has passed Alonso for P10. Stroll is, in the words of Depeche Mode, going backwards - he's dropped behind Hulkenberg, Sainz and Tsunoda, and is now P14 with Franco Colapinto breathing down his neck.

Antonelli also closing in on Hadjar - 2s faster that lap. Then again, he has to push because his mirrors are full of Leclerc's Ferrari.

Hamilton scoots past Hadjar on the outside into Tamburello at the beginning of lap 37. Net P5.

All this excitement and we're only just past the 'Bon Jovi' point of the race - half way there.

Hamilton now goes purple (not literally) in P6 as he closes in on Hadjar.

Russell has gone around the outside of Lance Stroll into the Tamburello for P10.

Piastri now the fastest driver on track in P4, 5s behind Albon.

Sainz actually had to pass Tsunoda for that position, and Yuki made it hard for him into the Villeneuve chicane. Carlos straight on the radio to harrumph and it has been 'NOTED' by race control.

Sainz, another of the relatively early stoppers, is another loser from the VSC, Currently in P13 ahead of Tsunoda.

VSC is off and we have a green flag. This has shaken out with Verstappen leading Norris by 19.8s - so he's doubled his advantage.

Albon is P3, Piastri P4, then Hadjar, Antonelli, Hamilton, Alonso (who didn't stop under the VSC) and Stroll (ditto), then Leclerc.

But the two Astons, you'll remember, are essentially locked into a one-stop strategy whereas others had another set of hards available.

And while all that musing was being laid down on page, Leclerc passed Stroll for P9.

Piastri pits at the end of lap 30.

This has thrown everything into the air but it's not going to land well for McLaren. Or for the other drivers who started on medium but stopped 10 laps or so ago.

Hadjar, Antonelli, Hamilton, Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Bearman, Russell, Tsunoda, Sainz and Gasly also pitting.

Yes, in Max comes for a bargain basement pitstop at the end of lap 29. Albon too.

Yellow flag on track. It's at Tosa. Esteban Ocon has parked his Haas on the inside at the exit.

A VSC is called - this will benefit Verstappen.

McLaren pit crew is out for Norris. He comes in at the end of lap 28. 2.1s that stop.

Up front, Verstappen and Norris are still lapping in the early 21s and the gap is relatively static at around 9.8s.

Piastri whips past Hadjar into the Tamburello at the start of lap 28.

Piastri DRSs past Antonelli and goes around the outside at Tamburello at the start of lap 27.

Piastri goes around the outside of Hamilton into the Tamburello at the beginning of lap 26. And so to Kimi Antonelli, 0.5s ahead, thither to Isack Hadjar who is 1.5s ahead of Antonelli.

Another stealth mega race so far for Isack.

Piastri no 0.5s behind Hamilton. What a traffic horrorshow - will be interesting to hear why McLaren went for that early stop.

On the subject of drivers who, strategically speaking, robbed Peter to pay Paul by using mediums in qualifying, Alonso and Stroll are P14 and P15. Sainz ahead of both of them.

Tsunoda pits at the end of lap 24.

Russell is complaining about movement at the back of his Mercedes, saying it feels like a track rod is shot. He has really lost out as a result of that early stop – currently P12 and staring at the back of Tsunoda's Red Bull.

George started third on the grid but he's the best part of four seconds behind Leclerc, who started 11th.

Lap 22 and Piastri is now by Hulkenberg for what is currently P7. He's 5s behind Hamilton, who of course is yet to stop having begun the race on hard Pirellis.

Sainz is told that his teammate is doing 1m21s laps and responds "it's definitely a one-stop then".

Leclerc DRSs past Tsunoda into Tamburello at the beginning of lap 21.

Leclerc now dicing with Tsunoda.

"The key for us is free air and going long," Norris is told.

Piastri is now 32s off the lead - getting by Tsunoda and Bearman cost him and now he's got to get by Colapinto. Then there's a 3s buffer to Hulkenberg.

The gap between Verstappen and Norris is ebbing and flowing - now down to 9.7s but Max was three tenths faster on lap 18.

Lap 17 and Piastri is 0.5s behind Tsunoda - which would be a problem even if Yuki didn't have DRS from Bearman's Haas in front.

Piastri gets the job done at the start of his 18th lap, slipping up to Tsunoda under DRS and sticking his nose ahead into Tamburello.

Piastri is currently 30.414s behind Verstappen and Tsunoda has been instructed to hold Oscar up.

Leclerc 4.5s behind Piastri.

Interesting track position picture developing as Piastri has come out in what's now P11, 3s behind Yuki Tsunoda but he's soon going to have to pass the Red Bull because Tsunoda started on the hards.

Up front, Verstappen and Norris are now separated by 10.284s.

Stroll now pits at the end of lap 14. It's not a quick one either - right rear was slow to change.

Replays showing flames from Alonso's brake ducts as he exits the pits.

Alonso manages to get out of the pits ahead of Sainz. Currently running P15 and P16 on track.

Piastri pits at the end of lap 13 and it's slow.

Alonso and Bortoleto also into the pits at the end of lap 12. Leclerc goes purple.

Norris has a look around the outside at Tamburello at the beginning of lap 11, Russell shuts him down, but then Lando makes it stick into the Villeneuve chicane. Round the outside at the entry to the corner where Tsunoda shunted yesterday.

But the leading duo are already the best part of 8s up the road.

At the end of the lap, Russell and Sainz peel into the pits to get off the medium tyre. Charles Leclerc has already been in for hards and has undercut Russell, 1.2s ahead as they filter out in P16 and P17.

Russell on the radio, saying he's having to push harder than he'd like to keep Norris behind him. Equally, Norris is pushing - two wheels on the grass on the entry to Tamburello at the beginning of lap 10.

Verstappen has the fastest lap so far and he's pulled out of DRS range to Piastri, who is now 1.6s behind.

Right now the big battles on track are between Russell and Norris (who is just half a second behind the Mercedes), Alonso and Sainz (+0.6s), Stroll and Leclerc (+0.8s), and Antonelli and Hamilton. Antonelli looking like a man under pressure - the Merc is slithering around a lot.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

Make that P11! Charles Leclerc puts a move on Pierre Gasly for ninth at the Piratella and Pierre runs wide, kicking up gravel and rejoining in 14th, so the drivers in between all shuffle forward a place.