Bearman: "I had my wheel in his mirror. He just turned in on me. He didn’t leave me any space."

There were a few knocks on that first lap at the Circuit of the Americas. Oliver Bearman was bashed about quite a bit but the Haas driver is in the points in 10th place. Carlos Sainz also took a hefty hit.

Kimi Antonelli, on his medium tyres, is keeping the gap at two seconds from four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

Image source, Getty Images

Race control flash a message on screen to say Mercedes' George Russell is now under investigation for allegedly leaving the track and gaining an advantage at Turn 12 on the opening lap.

Russell was battling with Isack Hadjar, who made a slow getaway, but then the Briton made contact with the McLaren of Oscar Piastri.

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

Amazing start for Kimi Antonelli. While all these guys were scrapping for P2, he's managed to get a clear lap, not bothered by anyone behind him. He's got a two-second lead

Lance Stroll is on the Aston Martin radio to say there is bodywork flying around the track, but things look to have been cleared now.

Max Verstappen is pumping out the fastest laps iin the Red Bull as he tries to chase down Kimi Antonelli, who made a fantastic start in the Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton is where he needs to be in fourth, George Russell has stayed put in his starting sixth position.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Albon made contact with the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso in the opening laps of this United States Grand Prix, so that's what the virtual safety car was for. The yellow flags are still out, so maybe Albon's car has picked up more damage.

Polesitter Kimi Antonelli leads Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 2.6 seconds.

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

I was talking about the worry that Kimi Antonelli would be mugged buy the Red Bulls but it was actually the Ferraris mugging the Red Bull of Max Verstappen!

it looks like there's a bit of debris on track that requires a short virtual safety car. Kimi Antonelli leads from Max Verstappen, who lost his position to Charles Leclerc within the opening corners.

Now the yellow flag is waving, as Oliver Bearman is battling in the points places in 10th spot.

Lewis Hamilton is up to fourth at Cota, as Isack Hadjar as dropped down the order to fifth.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Yeehaw! Here we go!

Great start by Kimi Antonelli and the Mercedes driver leads coming out of Turn One at Cota.

Charles Leclerc is putting Max Verstappen under pressure and the Ferrari man takes second place from the Red Bull driver.

George Russell has gone off the track but has stayed in sixth place.

Verstappen wants his position back off Charles Leclerc. The four-time world champion waits for the perfect opportunity and passes the Monegasque to reclaim second spot.

Kimi Antonelli is making his way to the head of the field. Will this be he night the title changes hands from Lando Norris to the 20-year-old Italian?

We're about to find out...

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

Talking to some of the engineers, they say this is one of the easier circuits for overtaking on the calendar so it depends who you talk to. I saw Lewis Hamilton say he found it difficult to overtake here when he was trying to pass Sebastian Vettel. But I think with these conditions, the overtake mode and various things they've got at their disposal, then coming down the back straight, they've got a much easier chance of getting past the car in front.

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

Kimi Antonelli's on the medium and he's probably going to be able to sort out what happens after the start because the softer tyre will run out of grip faster.

Image source, Getty Images

Polesitter Kimi Antonelli has been put on the medium compound for the start of this United States Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen down to Lewis Hamilton in fifth are lining up on he soft C4 tyre.

George Russell, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are also on the mediums at lights out.

Lance Stroll is now starting from the pit lane, and Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto, grid penalties in hand, are starting on the hard compound.

Mercedes' deputy team principal Bradley Lord speaking to 5 Live's Rosanna Tennant: "I don't want to burst the bubble. It's the grid, it's the start of a grand prix. All that's in Kimi's control is trying to win. If events fall his way, it means we've had a bad afternoon as a team. We're just focusing on two cars on the podium."

On understanding the upgrades now: "It's clear it's a narrower window for the drivers, it's more of a balancing act for them but when you can put the pieces together, you get what we had with Kimi yesterday. George unfortunately was right there in Q1 and Q2 but not in Q3 but he can go forward today."

Image source, Getty Images

A representative from the FIA is having a look at the rear of Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin on the grid. The Spaniard had flames out the back of his car on Saturday, and team boss Adrian Newey told Sky Sports a few moments ago: "We had the same problem in qualifying yesterday. It goes out as soon as he moves. We think it’s a bit of oil coming out of the breather, but we’re not exactly sure."

George Russell, meanwhile, had a chat on his way to the grid and sadi: "I think [Isack] Hadjar is going to be an interesting one because he had a great day yesterday but his pace recently has been a bit offset to Max so it depends where he falls out but I think it'll be a tight race."

Thanks to all of you who took part in our poll to see who you think will win the US Grand Prix today.

Unsurprisingly, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli came out on top with 47% of those who responded backing him for the win from pole position.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who starts second, got 31% of the votes with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, starting fifth, next with 14%.