Due to the threat from the Weather Gods, the start of today's race has been brought forward by three hours.

Those of you familiar with British weather will appreciate that, should this become the norm, the start of the Silverstone race could be brought forward several weeks.

That said, with three hours to go before the revised start time, the sky is black and the proverbial cats and dogs are falling from the sky.

On cue, Pirelli reveals the possible strategies for the race, together with details of the available tyre sets, all of which sounds somewhat naïve at present.

A break in the weather allowed the F2 race to go ahead, but it remains to be seen how the rest of the day will play out.

Isack Hadjar, who was set to start from the back of the back of the grid as result of an issue relating to the legality of his floorboard, will now start from the pitlane after taking on extra PU elements.

Just in case... the one-stop strategy is the fastest option, the compounds selected having proven to be consistent and with low degradation. Extending the stints to make just one pit stop is therefore not an issue.

By contrast, a two-stop strategy would be penalised by around 10 seconds compared to a single stop.

On paper, the medium-hard solution, with a pit window between laps 22 and 28, is the quickest and offers the advantage of flexibility in the event of neutralisations, which are frequent in Miami even in the dry.

The soft could be a valid option, exploiting its higher grip, when used in combination with the hard.

Starting on the soft, the pit stop should be made between laps 16 and 22. Less effective in terms of lap time is the medium-soft pairing, which would have a pit window between laps 32 and 38.

However, it is highly likely that all that will go out the window.

As the pitlane opens the air temperature is 26 degrees C, a lot cooler than yesterday, while the track temperature is 36 degrees. It is overcast but dry, however there is rain on the way, currently predicted to arrive in about fifty minutes into the race.

The pitlane opens and Ocon leads the way, followed by Lindblad, Bearman, Gasly and Russell.

As the pitlane closes, Norris, Leclerc and Sainz are last to take their places on the grid.

Ahead of the formation lap, Race Control warns of a 40% chance of rain, just 40% after all the hysteria?

All are starting on the mediums, and all are on fresh mediums.

They head off on the formation lap, Antonelli keen to get on with it, while Verstappen takes his time getting away.

The grid forms.

They're away! A good start from Antonelli, but Verstappen and Leclerc also get brilliant getaways, as does Norris.

Verstappen is on the inside of Antonelli into Turn 1, with Leclerc looking to get through between them. The Mercedes driver runs wide, having out-braked himself, while the Red Bull and Ferrari touch in Turn 2. Verstappen spins, but other than doing a full 360 he somehow avoids being hit and is able to continue, albeit dropping down to ninth. "Ah, sorry guys," says the four-time world champion.

Back on track, Antonelli has lost out to Leclerc.

Russell was slow off the line, allowing Piastri to get alongside, with Hamilton and Colapinto in hot pursuit. Indeed, in Turn the McLaren pair appear to touch.

In the confusion, Hamilton is alongside Norris with Colapinto right behind, however the seven-time world champion runs wide to avid the spinning Red Bull, rejoining behind the Mercedes and the Alpine.

At the end of Lap 1, it's: Leclerc, Antonelli, Norris, Piastri, Russell, Colapinto, Hamilton, Lawson, Verstappen and Sainz.

"He pushed me off, he thinks he can do whatever he wants," says Sainz.

Hulkenberg pits for a new nose as Leclerc builds a lead of over a second.

Lawson appears to allow Verstappen through to claim eighth, as Russell passes Piastri for fourth.

Colapinto and Hamilton have been noted for causing a collision.

Hadjar is up to sixteenth, having passed Stroll.

Hamilton is losing 10 - 15 points of downforce due to damage.

Antonelli is all over Leclerc with Norris just a second behind.

On Lap 5, Antonelli passes Leclerc in Turn 17, the Ferrari driver is unable to fight back.

"Stay with them, let them yo-yo," Norris is told.

Next time around, Leclerc retakes the lead, passing Antonelli in Turn 10

Yellow flag! Hadjar is in the wall. The Safety Car is deployed.

"I'm OK," says Gasly as his car has mounted the wall at Turn 17.

Two incidents within moments and it's not even raining.

While Gasly walks away from his car, Hadjar is pounding his steering wheel in frustration.

Verstappen and Bottas pit under the Safety Car, the Dutchman rejoining in 16th.

Relay shows Gasly clashing with Lawson, the Frenchman launched backwards into the air. Hadjar got it wrong, went wide and hit the wall, breaking his steering arm.

The Gasly incident is under investigation, while Lawson has retired.

Hulkenberg has pitted again and it appears to be terminal.

"We have a cell of rain twenty minutes away," Lindblad is advised.

Piastri is told of a possible shower on Lap 25.

Leclerc leads the field behind the Safety Car, while somehow Norris is second ahead of Antonelli. Russell is fourth, ahead of Piastri, Hamilton, Colapinto, Albon, Sainz and Bearman.

The Safety Car is withdrawn at the end of Lap 11.

Ahead of the restart, Leclerc backs the field right up, before letting loose. Russell makes a move on Piastri in Turn 1, he fails and comes under attack from Hamilton.

"That was super dangerous by Russell," claims Piastri.

On hards, Verstappen is up to thirteenth, as Norris goes around the outside of Leclerc in Turn 7 to take the lead.

As Russell complains that he is in the wrong strat mode, Leclerc is passed by Antonelli. However, the Ferrari driver, courtesy of the yo-yo, retakes the position, but not for long.