20/05/2021
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's opening session, the air temperature is 19.8 degrees C, while the track temperature is 37.9 degrees. It is bright and sunny.
It's worth noting that, even before a wheel has turned, Race Director, Michael Masi has already updated his original event notes twice.
The lights go green and Russell is first out, followed by Raikkonen, Giovinazzi, Mazepin, Latifi, Alonso and Sainz.
The big question is who might be first to encounter the barriers this weekend, Mazepin, Latifi or Tsunoda.
In no time at all, all bar Hamilton are on track with a mixture of all three compounds, though the hards appear to be the most popular.
Russell posts a 23.902 but this is immediately beaten by Raikkonen (20.926). The Williams is on softs while the Alfa is on hards.
As Leclerc goes quickest (19.618), subsequently waving to the fans - possibly his neighbours - Hamilton heads out.
As Hamilton goes ninth (21.894), Sainz improves with a 16.241 to claim the top spot.
Verstappen goes second (17.072), ahead of Giovinazzi, Stroll, Russell and Leclerc.
As you can imagine, it is fast and frantic.
In the Gulf-liveried McLaren, Norris goes second (16.482), only to be demoted when Hamilton posts a 15.858.
"Box now, box," Leclerc is told as he suggests that his engine is "broken". Subsequently adding that he thinks "fourth gear is broken".
Sainz (mediums) retakes the top spot with a 14.457, as Mazepin is already getting in the way of his rivals, in this case Verstappen. The Russian is currently 5.3s off the pace.
It appears that Leclerc does indeed have a gearbox failure which means his session is already over after just 4 laps.
Vettel is currently third on a 15.004, posted on the hards.
It's not all bad for Ferrari however, as Sainz looks to consolidate his top spot with a 13.388, the Spaniard quickest in all three sectors.
And Hamilton is the first driver to fall foul of the track limits, the world champion having his time deleted after exceeding them at Turn 10. Ironically, it was on a cool-down lap.
While Hamilton is on mediums, title rival Verstappen is on hards.
The three quickest drivers - Sainz, Bottas and Hamilton - are all on mediums.
Despite traffic, Verstappen improves to third with a 13.970.
Vettel is now fifth, ahead of Gasly, Perez, Stroll, Russell and Norris.
Out come the yellows and then the VSC is deployed after Alonso clouts the barrier at Rascasse, damaging his front wing in the process.
Still on the hards, Verstappen goes quickest with a 13.191 as Russell posts 14.881 on softs.
Hamilton makes clear that he prefers corners to be identified by their names as opposed to numbers.
A 13.131 sees Bottas go top, only to be demoted when his teammate responds with a 12.995.
Raikkonen heads down the escape road at Ste Devote following a major lock-up.
On softs, Gasly goes fourth with a 13.207.
As Sainz goes top (12.965), Tsunoda - who has never driven here before in any category - improves to sixth with a 13.746, albeit on the softs.
Gasly now goers top with a 12.929.
With 21 minutes remaining, Perez is the first of the big guns to switch to the softs.
Despite a PB in S2, on his first flying lap the Mexican fails to improve on ninth. That said, he appeared to abort the lap in the final sector due to traffic.
Teammate Verstappen, on the other hand, has switched to mediums.
Back on track following his earlier mishap, Alonso has to make use of the escape road at Ste Devote.
As Perez continues to struggle, Verstappen goes quickest in S1. The Dutchman posts a PB in S2, finally crossing the line at 12.648 to go top.
Moments later, Perez goes second with a 12.817. The Mexican is on softs and the Dutchman on mediums.
Mazepin improves to 16th, ahead of Schumacher, Ocon, Russell and Leclerc.
That said, following a close encounter with the barriers the Russian isn't happy with the handling of his car.
Despite a poor final sector, Perez goes quickest (12.536).
Verstappen reports an issue with his downshifts, the youngster asking to return to a previous setting.
Sainz (on mediums) splits the Bulls with a 12.606.
Surprisingly, Ricciardo is currently down in 15th, a full second down on his teammate.
In the dying moments, Perez improves to 12.487, consolidating his place at the top of the timesheet.
The session ends. Perez is quickest, ahead of Sainz, Verstappen, Gasly, Hamilton, Bottas, Norris, Vettel, Tsunoda, and Raikkonen.
Stroll is eleventh, ahead of Giovinazzi, Alonso, Latifi, Ricciardo, Ocon, Mazepin, Schumacher, Russell and Leclerc.
Check out our Thursday gallery from Monaco, here.