FP2 standings: Vettel fastest; Bottas 2nd, Ricciardo 3rd; Hamilton 5th
Vettel suffers problems with his Ferrari
Vettel fastest in first practice; Hamilton 10th
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Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst
Monaco is an amazing venue and challenge for the drivers. I took my sister to Monaco a few years ago. She still talks about it. It's the most amazing thing she's ever seen.
It's a spectacle and remains a tough challenge.
Alonso, when he spoke about going to Indy, said he's missing his favourite race.
Annnnd Lewis Hamilton goes fastest so far - a 1:38:112 fractionally ahead of team mate Valtteri Bottas who overtook Ricciardo on his second lap...
Your top three after about 20 minutes of FP1...
1. Hamilton 1:38:112
2. Bottas 1:38:246
3. Ricciardo 1:38:488
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain
Image source, Getty ImagesSo, I asked McLaren racing director Eric Boullier whether the Indy thing was part of a bigger picture to keep Alonso at McLaren - to do Indy and Le Mans with them.
He said: "Why not? Everyone has to use their own tricks when negotiating."
Both Mercedes are now out on the track...
Valtteri Bottas going for it on back to back flying laps - the first of which he does a 1:39:757.
I'll tell you something for nothing - keeping heat in the tyres won't be an issue this weekend. The current track temperature is 47 degrees...
Anyone got an egg?
Image source, Getty ImagesEveryone apart from Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz and Williams' Lance Stroll are on the medium compound tyres - those two have opted for softs.
Daniel Ricciardo is on a flying lap at the moment... He has recorded 1:38:985...
Image source, Getty Images
Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live commentator
The track temperature is 25 degrees hotter now than it's supposed to be for Sunday's race. So you won't discover much from today. The teams say they are using this session do to some testing work. It shows what an arms race this is.
Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst
Alonso going to Indy 500 is truly shocking. It caught everyone in the paddock by surprise. Everybody is perplexed on their superstar driver going to do something else.
First practice of the Bahrain weekend is underway...
Plenty of cars out on the track.
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra team are now broadcasting live from Bahrain.
Use the play button above to listen to Jack Nicholls, Tom Clarkson and Mark Gallagher who are all slowly baking in the 37 degree heat...
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain
Image source, ReutersPascal Wehrlein is back in the Sauber this weekend, after missing the first two races because of a lack of fitness arising from the back injury he suffered in the Race of Champions.
The German has taken a fair bit of criticism for the decision but he was in defiant mood on Thursday, revealing for the first time that he fractured three vertebrae in the thoracic spine and “compressed quite a few” too.
"I couldn't move for quite a long time, and of course I was restricted a lot in my training,” he said.
"I lost a lot of muscle, so that was the main focus, to rebuild those muscles."
As for the criticism, which was founded on the number of drivers who have raced in physical adversity, Wehrlein said: "I don't care too much what the others said, because they didn't know my situation. What the others drivers think, it's their opinion. If you don't know which injury someone had, you shouldn't criticise him. It's quite simple, you know.
"The injury wasn't something too serious, because I'm fine now, but if it was just some muscle pain, or anything else, do you think that Sauber or Mercedes would accept for me to not drive? Some negative comments I heard. I don't mind too much."
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JKWilkinson: Rain on race day in Monaco. Bedlam on track and Jenson takes the win. I know, I know. Up there with Alonso wining his maiden Indy500....
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Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain
Image source, rexIt’s round three of what promises to be a season-long fight between Mercedes and Ferrari for the world title.
Lewis Hamilton is genuinely worried about the threat from the Italian team this weekend. The Ferrari was pretty much on the Mercedes’ pace in Australia and China, and Hamilton fears the effect the desert heat here will have on Mercedes’ tyre usage.
"Ferrari have shown tremendous pace and I think in the first race, particularly in race trim, they were very, very quick - particularly on the hotter circuit," Hamilton said.
"So, being that it is a hotter race here, I think the gap is going to be even closer. They are always generally the team that is lighter on tyres. We have a heavier car; they have a light, nimble car."
What do the Ferrari drivers think? We don’t know. In their wisdom, Ferrari did not put either Sebastian Vettel or Kimi Raikkonen up for any interviews on Thursday.
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Gordon Ross: Great to see Button returning for Monaco, but a missed opportunity to gain US exposure by bringing an IndyCar guy in.
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Image source, Getty ImagesSorry - terrible pun. Not even a pun really.
Moving on...
We want to hear your thoughts on Jenson Button's return to F1 for the Monaco Grand Prix later in the season...
Get in touch using #bbcf1 or text us on 81111.
Image source, Getty ImagesMcLaren confirmed this morning that Jenson Button will replace Fernando Alonso for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Alonso will miss the race on 28 May to compete in the Indianapolis 500, with the full support of both McLaren and the team's engine partner Honda.
"I'm thrilled to be making a one-off return," said Button, 37, who retired from F1 at the end of last season.
"I couldn't think of a better place to make that return than my adopted home grand prix - Monaco."
So let's discuss this morning's news...
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Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Image source, rexIt's definitely 'shorts weather' in Bahrain
It’s hot in Sakhir. Very hot. 39C, to be precise. This morning, pit-lane reporter Tom Clarkson and I found ourselves cashless at a cash-only petrol station where the ATM did not work - with five different cards - and in a bit of a spot.
A very kind Irishman wearing a Leinster rugby shirt came to the rescue and offered to stump up the 2.4 dinars for our half-tank of petrol. For those unfamiliar with the exchange rate in Bahrain, that’s about £5.