Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Lewis Hamilton has closed right up to the back of Kimi Antonelli, so the Ferraris are working really nicely. Both the Mercedes cars seem to be struggling for grip.

Kimi Antonelli is ahead of the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton but the seven-time world champion is on the hunt to take his first proper win for the Scuderia. The gap between the pair is nine tenths and Hamilton is just trying managing is battery so he's ready to pounce when an opportunity presents itself.

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Rich: All the complaining about the rules change spoiling F1 is crazy, problem solving and evolution is exactly what F1 is about and why the teams are so huge - if it was just go racing you want watch go karts

Charles Leclerc is moving up the order and passes Franco Colapinto for third place. The Argentine then finds a Mercedes on his rear wing and soon enough, the Alpine driver loses another place. But it's not all doom and gloom for Colapinto, and he's still in the points in sixth spot.

"We've got no grip"

George Russell is down to fifth after being passed by the other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. The Mercedes man is struggling on his hard tyres and needs to phone base to tell them he has no grip.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I still think George Russell has got plenty of pace in that Mercedes to still challenge for the win, but he's just made it a little bit more difficult for himself.

Kimi Antonelli stays ahead of the Alpine and Haas at the restart, who both hold their position in second and third, with Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari now chasing the two cars down.

Hamilton has Ocon in his sights and the Frenchman doesn't fight the seven-time world champion as lap 14 comes to an end.

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Jack: That overspeed from Russell was ridiculous, genuinely what is supposed to be entertaining or impressive about it, these regs are an absolute embarrassment.

Chris: A quarter of the field out, before a quarter of the race has been run, this is not the entertainment I was hoping for this season.

The safety car is heading in on this lap as Lando Norris can only watch on from the sidelines. The world champion and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri failed to start this race along with the Williams of Alex Albon and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto.

Graham: This might be F1 but it's not motor racing. Just a spectacle for the video game generation.

Andy: Yes there is overtaking but it’s not wheel to wheel racing when they boost past. The ‘battle’ is much less intense with these regs.

Lee: Just far too much tech involved these days. Should be a simple v8/10/12 engine and that’s it!! Electrical recovery nonsense can do one!

The safety car is trundling around with Kimi Antonelli, Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon following on behind. George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and the Racing Bulls of Arvid Lindblad are the next cars in the queue.

Russell is on the blower to Mercedes to say the one-stop strategy is going to be challenging now.

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Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

The drivers on hard tyres at the start generally haven't pitted which is very counter-intuitive. I don't understand why they think that's going to help them.

I think maybe they've done it because the hards are expected to go deep into the race, but you're costing yourself so much race time by not stopping, and your tyres are going to be slower than everyone else around you.

I don't see how that is going to work out for them long term.

John: I really like these new regulations for the action and racing however there are clear issues. I would have a 'Mid Season Testing' between Japan and Miami at say Barcelona-Catalunya.

Hard tyres have bolted on for the drivers who started on the mediums or softs. Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon started on the white rubber and now the Argentine has moved up to P2 and Frenchman Ocon is running third in the Haas.

Kimi Antonelli is leading after stopping under the safety car.

Max Verstappen comes into the pits, just before a full safety car is deployed for the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll who has come to a stop.The Dutchman has dropped down the order to 15th place, as the rest of the pack file in for a cheap stop.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The hard compound tyre in contrast to the medium compound tyre looks in quite good condition right now.

It looks like the hard is the tyre to be on, the medium is starting to struggle and Max Verstappen's soft tyre has fallen off a cliff.

Lawson: "Guys"

Engineer: "We are reviewing"

Lawson: "Yeah it's OK. I'm just going to lose time"

Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson are switching places as the two grapple for eighth place. New Zealander Lawson has it now after locking up and tells his pit wall he was going to give the place back.

Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri is walking through the paddock with the cameras following him. The Australian has failed to start either of the first two races this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Max Verstappen doesn't look very happy on this set of soft compound tyres. That front-left tyre looks really angry, this tyre is not looking like the choice to be on.