F1 Las Vegas GP live commentary and updates - race
Follow along for Formula 1 grand prix updates from Las Vegas
Live Standings
Live Text
Other casualties of lap one include Pierre Gasly, who spun, and Lance Stroll, who was biffed by Gabriel Bortoleto – the Sauber went steaming up the inside and smote him.
Lewis Hamilton now P12, having started 19th.
BEAR NECESSITIES
Oliver Bearman has made progress – currently P7 behind Piastri. He made up most of that ground at Turn 1 on the opening lap, taking the Esteban Ocon Hungary lane as others ran wide.
AND IT'S HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY
Lando Norris chops across the front of Max Verstappen from pole position, but runs wide into Turn 1 and Max takes the lead. Russell then relieves Norris of P2 just to be emphatic.
Oscar Piastri has gone backwards too – both RBs ahead of him. Part of Liam Lawson's front wing has been dislodged. Piastri now P7 – no! P6 as Lawson locks up at the beginning of lap 2.
As the grid forms up we see Kimi Antonelli (P17) starting on the softs. Everyone else on mediums apart from Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Albon, Bortoleto and Hamilton.
Other updates ahead of the race: Yuki Tsunoda will start from the pitlane because Red Bull have made changes under parc ferme, including a new power unit. Presumably to annoy McLaren as much as anything else.
And of course, the track surface will be very 'green' because the roads have been open to traffic during the day.
TYRED AND EMOTIONAL
For fans of comedy, we share the Pirelli projected race strategies. Those of you who have been reading our website – you have, haven't you? – will know that Thursday night's disruptions and changing weather throughout the weekend has made this a bit of an analysing the tea leaves job.
So the one-stop strategy is likely to involve medium-hard, with a pitstop window between laps 20 and 26.
Two-stoppers could be medium-hard-hard or medium-hard-medium, with a first stop between laps 12-20 and a second between laps 27 and 38. Obviously those going medium-hard-hard will be stopping slightly earlier. There's also the possibility of doing soft-medium soft because everybody has loads of fresh tyres available, owing to the wet weather in qualifying.
Earlier on, the trackside fans were entertained by Doncaster's finest – Louis Tomlinson of course.
Fans of High School Musical – The Series (like us, of course) will be delighted to see Adrian Lyles performing the Star-Spangled Banner along with the Disney marching band.
TROUBLE AT T'MILL?
Work is proceeding on George Russell's car as the US national anthem is about to kick off.
Terry Crews on the grid wearing what appears to be a cross between a leather jacket and a bin bag. We'll endeavour to bring you a picture.
HELLO, GOOD EVENING/MORNING/NIGHT AND WELCOME
It's the Las Vegas Grand Prix, we're live, and the abject nonsense is about to stop.
Speaking of abject nonsense, here's Max Verstappen giving Minnie Mouse a high five while Yuki Tsunoda blanks Mickey completely.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
By: Stuart Codling
