Mark Scales Have half the cars go round the track in the opposite direction.

Kel Start the grid backwards with lowest qualified on pole, so the fastest cars have to make their way through the pack!

Ashley Cusack Tighten the Technical rules so that the small teams can develop their car to the same extent of the big teams, would also reduce cost.

Gideon Cresswell More grip and cars so demanding to drive that drivers get out the car and look shattered!

In contrast, Fernando Alonso improves to go sixth fastest with 1:20.262.

"We'll stay out and keep pushing while the tyres are improving," the Spaniard is told over team radio.

Image source, Formula 1

Jenson Button is up and running with a 1:25.890, the 18th fastest time, but is quickly told to head back in. Another problem?

Image source, Getty Images

The Monaco Grand Prix is an absolute goldmine for lovers of old grand prix pictures.

Here's a snap from the 1958 race, won by French driver Maurice Trintignant with just six cars finishing and 10 retiring, including Sir Stirling Moss and Graham Hill.

Moss is one of a few people still able to recall the very early days of F1 racing in Monaco. He once told me how he and Mike Hawthorn got a ticking off by an old lady in a coffee shop for making "an awful racket" on the streets.

Now residents will be as familiar with that "racket" as they will be with yachts mooring up at the harbour...

Image source, McLaren

McLaren: A single-lap install done and dusted for Jenson Button. He's now ready to begin his run-programme.

Daniel Kvyat: "I have no brakes basically."

Mercedes: Both cars back in the garage giving feedback to engineers; a few tweaks here and there ordered! Striving for the best...

A hairy moment for Sebastian Vettel as he runs sideways through Casino Square, just about managing to keep his Ferrari from clipping the barrier. "It looked more like a rally car for a moment," says BBC F1 commentator Ben Edwards.

Meanwhile, both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are back in the Mercedes garage.

Dan Slade Loads more Horsepower, Loads more torque, Wider Tyres and a London Street Circuit!

Terry Davoren Bring back the "old" qualifying format of 12 laps. It was a skill for drivers/teams to navigate traffic and time the runs.

Philip Aston Cars from 2004 and 2005 were the best. Bodywork like those as well as screaming engine power will boost TV audiences.

Max Baggins-Craig Following a lap checkpoint, drivers go into pits & play spider solitaire - sounds good to me...

Sebastian Vettel rattles off a new personal best with 1:19.382 to nudge Nico Rosberg out of P2. Vettel is now six tenths of a second off Lewis Hamilton's benchmark of 1:18.750.

Image source, Reuters

McLaren have indeed got Jenson Button out on to the circuit for the first time in this session.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel navigates his way through a fair bit of traffic and is still able to clock the third fastest time so far with 1:19.950.

Image source, Williams

Williams:, external It's not just the barriers that are close in Monaco, your neighbours aren't far away either as Valtteri heads out.

As I post that, Max Verstappen leaps up to third fastest with 1:21.715 in the Toro Rosso.

It would be easy to forget that this is the rookie's first taste of this circuit, and he is apparently having to contend with a bruise, external on a, shall we say, delicate area after taking part in soapbox derby before travelling to Monaco...

With 45 minutes gone, it is still the Mercedes pair who lead the way.

Image source, Reuters

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Monaco

"Jenson Button caused a bit of a stir with his comments after the race in Spain, saying he was "scared" of the wayward behaviour of the McLaren.

"The Englishman has rowed back from those remarks here, clearly aware that they did not exactly set the right tone. 'I was very outspoken,' Button said. 'When emotions are running high you always exaggerate things. It was a tough race for me. It was good to have the test three days later to really put everything right. The car felt much nicer to drive, much more consistent.

"'We also had some new parts to test for this season, but especially for here. It was a good test. So, really, end of test, happy and you could see how far we have come since February, as a whole team but especially Honda and the Japanese side of the team. There was so much more confidence within.'"

Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter in Monaco

"I have good news for Jenson Button fans. McLaren have the car down from the stands and it looks like the estimation of getting his car out before 11am local time (10:00 BST) looks correct. Hopefully he will be out on track in the next 15 minutes."

Still no sign of Jenson Button and his McLaren, 45 minutes to go. Will he get out in this session?

Jessica C: It's always gotta be Mario Kart style tortoise shells!

Laurent Cossa: Less aero reliance, simpler front wings, no fins & boards, points for 3 drivers who've made up most places from their grid position.

Jamie Dunmore: Get rid of gimmicks like DRS, give free choice of tyres, simplified aero, more mechanical grip and bring back gravel traps.

Image source, Getty Images

Nico Rosberg can equal the record of a Formula 1 legend if he secures pole and wins this weekend.

He has converted pole into victory in each of the last two Monaco GPs, doing it for a third time in as many years will match the achievement of Ayrton Senna.

Rosberg briefly vaults into P1 with 1:20.970 but his team-mate Lewis Hamilton is straight back on top with a 1:19.762. The pair have completed more laps than any other driver this morning, with 16 under their belts.

Early days, but Hamilton is looking very impressive.

Meanwhile, Jennie Gow has just grabbed a word with Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo to get his thoughts on practice so far.

"It is still a bit damp in some areas but it dries pretty quickly and if the rain stays away we should see the times come down quickly," he says.

"I think if we put the weekend together here we should get our best result here."