David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator

"Jenson Button on super softs, Fernando Alonso on soft. That explains the difference in pace. Jenson around three tenths of a second a lap faster. Jenson has to just keep working himself up but he has some gap to Verstappen. McLaren though, this is their strongest showing to date."

McLaren have no points this season so far.

So far so good for McLaren with Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso into the top 10 now.

Alonso, a two-time winner in Monaco, has the slower soft tyres bolted on, with Button on the faster supersofts. Alonso is up to 10th, having started 13th on the grid, with Button in ninth.

Image source, Formula 1

Back to matters at the front of the pack and Lewis Hamilton has a three second lead over team-mate Nico Rosberg with 10 laps gone.

Image source, Lotus

Lotus F1 Team: Sadly, game over for Pastor Maldonado.

Pastor Maldonado is correct with his earlier assumption that his brakes are not OK. His Lotus has suffered brake by wire failure and he heads into the pits. Game over?

Max Verstappen does indeed put pressure on Pastor Maldonado, too much as he kisses the back of his Lotus, some carbon fibre breaking off in the process. Verstappen has another bite of the cherry and he passes Maldonado at Ste Devote.

Image source, AFP

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso has a five-second penalty after colliding with Nico Hulkenberg (above) earlier and he will have to serve that in his next stop.

Image source, F1

So Vettel nearly made it past Rosberg at the first corner, and Kvyat overtook Red Bull team-mate Ricciardo for fourth. A great move by the Russian.

Image source, F1

Race Stewards confirm they are investigating the incident between Alonso and Hulkenberg on the opening lap Monaco GP.

"We think the brakes are OK," says Pator Maldonado's Lotus team on the radio. "They are not OK," he replies.

The Toro Rosso team quickly tell Max Verstappen to pressure Maldonado: "We think Maldonado is struggling."

The pair are duelling for eighth.

Five laps down and this is the order at the moment. Lewis Hamilton maintains his place at the front, ahead of Nico Rosberg and then Sebastian Vettel.

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso has been able to keep going despite that earlier contact with Nico Hulkenberg and has actually gained a few positions too, up to 11th now, with his McLaren team-mate Jenson Button a little further down the road.

It is a puncture for Felipe Massa on the front right tyre and he has to pit. Nico Hulkenberg also heads in after hitting the barriers earlier and a new wing is popped on while he also swaps softs for supersofts before heading back out.

Sean Richardson: Brilliant strategy by Toro Rosso. Drive fast as you can and overtake as many cars as you can.

Shane Daly: I know a lot of people are saying this, but I see a Vettel win with Rosberg & Hamilton not finishing. Hopefully Kimi gets 2nd.

Vaishach: Nico Rosberg under cuts Lewis and wins. And may be rain comes and both McLaren get points, experience will pay off in rain.

Felipe Massa: "I'm finished, man. Finished."

Oh it's a bad start for Nico Hulkenberg, he touches Fernando Alonso's McLaren and is nudged into the barrier at Mirabeau, losing the nose on his Force India. Meanwhile, a problem for Felipe Massa too...

Image source, AFP

David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator

"That was really great stuff from all the drivers. Wheel to wheel from Rosberg and Vettel."

Lights out! Lewis Hamilton gets off the line well and holds off Nico Rosberg into Turn One. Sebastian Vettel tries to sneak past Rosberg but the Mercedes man defends well.

Carlos Sainz, starting in the pit lane, has a simple strategy. "Go as fast as you can and overtake as many as you can," he is told.

"The track seems to be a bit better," reports Valtteri Bottas over team radio.

Cloud cover kept the temperatures low for qualifying on Saturday, but the sun is out and it is much warmer today.

This doesn't look like a bad way to spend your Sunday. The famous swimming pool near the end of the lap is overlooked by spectators as this image tweeted by Ferrari, external shows.

I wonder if anyone will bomb from the top board and get a few claps while the masses wait for the cars...

Image source, Ferrari

Jeremiah Kariuki: To Turn one, Riccardo may try to prove a point. The losers there could be Nico Rosberg and Vettel.

Niranjana Sreekumar: Can't wait to see how the #MonacoGP takes shape. It's truly one of the best and exciting circuits!

Max Baggins-Craig: Hamilton to win, he knows the track, probably practiced in his road car & people watched him thinking "what's this guy doing"