For much of this week, the drivers have been expressing their fears for qualifying. This year's format means that in the opening part of the session we will, at times, see all 22 drivers on track, while the second session will also be busy with 16 drivers attempting to make it into the final ten.

The fact is that, especially after the single lap format of recent years, it is going to be busy out there, and Monaco is a particularly unforgiving circuit. However, these are professional drivers, supposedly some of the very best in the world, therefore we trust that common sense will prevail and that we can get through the first two sessions without incident.

Ahead of today's session the air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 43 degrees. Conditions, other than the anticipated congestion, are ideal.

The lights go green and first out is Heidfeld, followed by Raikkonen, Rosberg, Villeneuve and a whole heap of others. Clearly many of the drivers want to get a 'banker' lap in… just in case.

Fifteen cars on track, including the Renaults, as Michael waits resolutely in his garage.

Liuzzi posts the first time, crossing the line at 1:17.146, but this is soon beaten by Alonso, who posts 1:16.311.

Scott Speed goes quickest, but is then leapfrogged by Button, the action is so furious that the timing screens cannot keep pace.

With just under nine minutes remaining, Michael leaves the pits. On track, Trulli has gone quickest, posting a 1:14.883.

Disaster for Massa, who on his 'out lap' hits the barriers at the exit from Casino Square. The session is immediately red-flagged.

As the marshals remove the Ferrari, Michael, is in the danger zone, having failed to post a time, along with Montagny, Sato, Rosberg and Webber. Trulli is quickest, ahead of Coulthard, Ralf, Klien, Fisichella, Button, Montoya, Speed, Barrichello and Alonso.

The session resumes with eight minutes remaining.

Fisichella goes quickest in the first sector, and again in the second. He crosses the line at 1:14.614, though Alonso quickly beats this with a 1:14.232. elsewhere, almost unnoticed, Michael takes sixth with a 1:15.423.

A 1:13.887 sees Raikkonen go quickest, as Webber goes third, and Klien takes fifth, having gone quickest in the final sector.

Button is in the danger zone, but manages to grab ninth with a 1:15.085. However, teammate Rubens Barrichello is still in danger.

Speed gets it all wrong at the Chicane, going very wide, as Ralf Schumacher goes fourth with a 1:14.412. The Toyotas looking a lot better than this morning.

A 1:14.766 is enough to put Barrichello in eighth, but this drops Albers into the 'danger zone', just when he looked to have made the cut.

Therefore, Massa is the first high-profile name to be lost this afternoon, along with Montagny, Sato, Speed, Monteiro and Albers.

Quickest was Raikkonen, ahead of Alonso, Webber, Ralf, Montoya, Klien, Fisichella, Barrichello, Trulli and Rosberg.

The second session gets underway, with Heidfeld leading Villeneuve and Liuzzi back to work.

Heidfeld is on a hot lap but catches up with a McLaren, however, he passes it in the tunnel. At the line the German posts 1:15.137, to set the benchmark.

However, both Renault drivers are on hot laps, indeed Fisichella posts 1:13.647, only for Alonso to post 1:13.622. The only man not on track is Michael Schumacher, he sits and watches, like a cat.

Raikkonen goes quickest with a 1:13.532, as Coulthard goes fourth ahead of Rosberg, Montoya and Barrichello. Elsewhere, Michael leaves the pits.

Mark Webber eases into fourth with a 1:13.728, as Michael goes quickest in the first sector. Despite losing ground behind a BMW in the second sector, Michael goes fourth with a 1:13.709.

With under seven minutes remaining, Button in is the 'danger zone', along with Villeneuve, Heidfeld, Klien, Liuzzi and Ralf.

Michael is called into the weighbridge, which will cost him valuable time. Meanwhile, back on track, Rosberg is on a hot lap, as is Montoya.

Button aborts his hot lap, opting for a fresh set of tyres. The Honda is under-steering like crazy. Meanwhile, Rosberg takes sixth and Montoya eighth.