Vettel fastest, Stroll crashes, Palmer breaks down
Hamilton only eighth as Mercedes choose not to push
Get involved #bbcf1 #IfIwereJenson
Right, as much as I could sit here and talk Jenson Button all morning, there is a fascinating title battle going on.
Sebastian Vettel is the championship leader with 104 points with Lewis Hamilton six behind.
We're asking if you could have one driver back on a circuit of your choice, who would it be, where would it be and why?
Mark Rogers: One driver for one race would have to be Ayrton Senna at Monaco.
Alex Withington: Past drivers... I'd love to see @F1MikaHakkinen, external back just for one race. The only driver Michael Schumacher feared...
Image source, Getty ImagesBit cloudy over in Monaco this morning
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Monaco
Keep an eye out for Lewis Hamilton’s progress in the first half-hour of this session. Usually, he likes to go out and lay down a marker, like a dog marking his territory, by setting blistering laps straight out of the pits, as if to say to his rivals, look what you’re up against. It’s almost like a badge of honour for him, an affirmation of his talent, to himself as well as everyone else.
Hamilton has always been quick around Monaco, but the record says he has only won here twice, and this does bother him a little.
“I have not won here many times,” he said on Wednesday. “The pace I have had over the years, it has been the unicorn of races, that one that always gets away from you. There have been at least two, maybe three, that I probably should have had but other things came into play. But I am grateful for the ones I have. Not many people can say they have a Monaco Grand Prix win under their belt, especially the way those two came about in 2008 and 2016. Those were real quality races that I really earned so I am really proud of those but of course I want to have more.”
As it is Monaco, we often see a whole variety of modes of transport the drivers use to get to the track.
Here's Lewis Hamilton on a motorbike...
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... and here's Felipe Massa on a scooter.
Is he doubling up as a delivery driver?
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If you could have one driver from the past to take part in one race, who would it be, what circuit and why?
Let us know via #bbcf1, text in on 81111 (UK only) or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook page.
Jenson Button should know Monaco pretty well. He lives there, he first raced there in 2000 but things didn't quite go to plan in the simulator for the Briton.
“I fell in the pool twice, hopefully that won't happen," he said.
"You know after turn one you go up the hill? I fell off on the right hand side, rolled – I have never rolled in the simulator before! Lucky the impact isn't as big as reality but you get a jolt from G-force.”
It's Thursday which, for this race, means practice day!
Monaco, as ever, is looking mighty fine as we count down to first practice, which gets under way at 09:00 BST.
That will be the moment we see Jenson Button back behind the wheel of a McLaren.
How will he get on? Well you never forget how to drive... or do you?
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Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Monaco
A new twist for Formula 1 this weekend.
Nothing changes at the front - with the next stage of the highly enjoyable Mercedes-Ferrari battle joined on the most glamorous stage of all. But behind them, one giant of the sport is missing, with Fernando Alonso racing instead at the Indianapolis 500, and another makes a one-off return, with Jenson Button substituting for him at McLaren.
It adds an interesting new dimension to what is always one of the most intriguing weekends of the year.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesYes for one race and one race only, Jenson Button is back!
With Fernando Alonso off giving the Indy 500 a crack, Button is stepping into his former team-mate's shoes at McLaren in Monaco this weekend.
Madness? Or inspired? We shall see.
One thing is for sure, it will definitely be exciting.
Image source, Getty ImagesI'M BACK, BABY!