Image source, Formula 1

The Monaco Grand Prix circuit is not only the shortest on the calendar at 3.34km but also has the sport's slowest, tightest corner. Turn 6 is taken at just 50 km/h (31 mph).

Like much of the circuit, the corner has remained largely unchanged over the years, as can be seen from the below picture from the 1976 race.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Monaco

"Red Bull have their floating 'energy station' in Monaco as usual and there was a general optimism at both teams housed on there after Thursday practice. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo believed they would be able to be third best at least - with Williams looking like they were struggling with a lack of downforce - and said he hoped he might be able to get ahead of one of the Ferraris as well.

"'Besides Mercedes it is pretty close,' the Australian said. 'I think Ferrari obviously still have the edge but with a perfect qualifying, we can maybe try to split them. Don't get me wrong, to get in front of Ferrari will still be quite an effort but anything can happen around here, it is not impossible. We should be ahead of the Williams at least. Toro Rosso look quick again, but we should be alright.'

"Team-mate Daniil Kvyat is showing signs of improvement after a difficult start to the season and was fifth fastest in second practice."

The green light is on and the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo is the first out on the circuit. Others swiftly follow suit.

Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter in Monaco

"There is going to be so much work to do in this session. There will be a lot of action in this session. They are all going out on the soft tyre at the moment, the harder of the tyres here."

Image source, Getty Images

Monaco may not be in it, and you apparently can't watch it in the principality, but for millions of people across Europe tonight is about one thing and one thing only - the Eurovision Song Contest.

It might not be to everyone's taste, but it doesn't mean we can't get into the spirit of things and have our own little Eurovision-Formula 1 fusion of fun right here.

I want you to send us song titles, but with a Formula 1 theme. To kick things off, here's a belter, courtesy of BBC colleague James McMath: Vettel the devil you know. Genius.

Send us your suggestions to #bbcf1, text in on 81111 (UK only) and also post them on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

James Allen in Monaco
BBC Radio 5 live commentator in Monaco

"It is nothing new having a supersoft tyre but what is different is that it has had the most changes to it. The teams did have some running on it in testing in Barcelona but that is not the conditions that really demands the tyre. It is the low grip circuits like this one. We expect it to be the main race tyre."

The drivers are climbing into their cars and the circuit will be open in five minutes. This one hour session gives the teams and drivers the chance for a run out on Pirelli's supersoft tyre, which is making its season debut in Monaco and we did not get the chance to see it on Thursday because of the washout.

Image source, Getty Images

Not everyone is a fan of the Monaco Grand Prix, just ask former world champion Jacques Villeneuve.

The 44-year-old lives in Monaco but never won there during his racing career.

"The driving is amazing, it's the weekend that's a pain," Villeneuve says. "You can't sleep at night because there's music everywhere until six in the morning. It's hell to work, so that's the part that's not likeable because it's not like the good old days where you went to a gala the night before and got drunk and raced anyway. So Monaco is hell."

Fancy a house swap for the weekend Jacques? Salford is lovely at this time of the year...

Image source, Lotus

Lotus: Weather update ahead of FP3 from our mini friends, #MiniPastor & #MiniRomain: "It's a bit meh."

BBC weatherman Ian Fergusson: Dry conditions expected for FP3 & qualifying, with cloud cover varying & at times more extensive this afternoon; 19-20C.

Image source, Getty Images

Ayrton Senna holds the record for the most wins at Monaco, winning on the street circuit six times in seven years between 1987 and 1993. Britain's Graham Hill was known as "Mr Monaco" as he recorded five wins in the 1960s.

Incidentally, it was on this date - the 23 May - that Senna won the last of his six Monaco GPs in 1993.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Monaco

"There were stand-out performances from both Toro Rosso drivers in Thursday practice. Max Verstappen got all the attention for being second fastest in first practice having never raced at Monaco before, but team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr pipped him in the second session, when they were sixth and seventh fastest.

"Jenson Button said both men had done a 'great job'. And that was certainly the case even though the team had given them relatively low fuel in order to prepare them for the crucial qualifying session on Saturday. 'What we have to do is do laps and to push and to feel the car at the limit,' Sainz said. 'So what the team is giving us and what I am asking for is laps, laps, laps to feel the car as I am going to find it in qually.'

"Both he and Verstappen said they owed a lot to Red Bull's simulator, in which they had done about 200 laps in preparation, and Verstappen said a podium was not impossible 'if we have a lot of luck' - although he admitted 'Mercedes and Ferrari should be ahead'."

Image source, F1Funnies

Wonder what the folk working on the Monaco Grand Prix get up to on a Friday? Well wonder no more.

This picture provides a little insight how some pass the time, with these inventive stewards opting to recreate the famous Beatles Abbey Road scene.

Top work, lads.

Image source, Sauber

Sauber: It's getting busy in the pit lane. FP3 is about to start in 20 minutes.

James Allen
BBC Radio 5 live commentator in Monaco

"Lewis Hamilton looks what you expect from Hamilton, he was quick from the get-go, while the rain meant we didn't get to see everything that everyone had to offer. but what we did get to see and what we were privileged to witness was Max Verstappen.

"It was the speed of his hands that caught the eye, the way the car changed direction. You can see that bit of magic. Yes it was only practice and we don't know how much fuel everyone was running but to come second quickest to Lewis Hamilton, I saw something very special on Thursday."

A quick reminder, then, of what's to come today before we crack on.

Third and final practice for tomorrow's race gets under way at 10:00 BST and lasts for one hour. Break for lunch and then qualifying at 13:00 BST.

You can listen to commentary on final practice from 09:55 BST via the live coverage tab on this page, while qualifying will be live on BBC Radio 5 live.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Monaco

"Lewis Hamilton was on spectacular form on Thursday in Monaco. Practice was truncated by rain in the second session, but when the track was dry, there was no catching the world champion. Hamilton arrived here determined to take his first win since 2008 - and to stop team-mate Nico Rosberg winning a third - and that resolve was clear in his driving.

"He was on full attack from the moment he hit the track, and the difference between him and his colleagues in those early laps was striking. "'I had a great first day here,' Hamilton said. 'Every year, it stuns me how fast we have to think out there, with so much information coming at you, and you have to be more reactive and agile than anywhere else.

"'The target is always to get on the pace as quick as you can and to be very specific and precise in the set-up changes you make, so you don't go down the wrong path.' Hamilton said he was 'determined to pick up on Saturday where he left off'."

Image source, Getty Images

Hello and welcome to Monaco Grand Prix qualifying day!

After Formula 1 enjoyed the usual Monaco day off on Friday, drivers and fans alike will no doubt be hoping for plenty of on-track action today after Thursday's rain-affected practice sessions.

With second practice largely spent watching people huddled under umbrellas and slow motion replays of seagulls flying on the television, it was left to first practice to provide us with the most entertainment.

Max Verstappen certainly caught the eye and optimism will be high that he can hand Toro Rosso a high finish on Sunday, but it was a dominant-looking Lewis Hamilton who put down the early marker in what is likely to be another tussle with his team-mate Nico Rosberg for pole.

Image source, Getty Images

Whatever Max Verstappen did with his day off in Monaco on Friday, it would not have involved renting a car. He's too young for that.

The 17-year-old is, however, more than capable of guiding the hulking beast that is a Formula 1 car round the principality at speeds of more than 200mph.

Verstappen wowed observers in Thursday's practice with a fine debut performance on Monaco's unforgiving street circuit.

Can he steal the show again today?