Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Monaco

Image source, Charles Coates

Daniel Ricciardo led Max Verstappen to a Red Bull one-two in first practice at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Australian was 0.154 seconds quicker than Verstappen, with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton third, 0.354secs behind.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, 17 points behind Hamilton in the championship, was fourth, 0.562secs behind the Briton and ahead of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.

Fernando Alonso had problems with his brake-by-wire system, consigning him to the garage for most of the session.

The Spaniard, who has not raced in Monaco since 2016 after taking part in the Indianapolis 500, did get out for the final 10 minutes but could manage only 17th quickest time, two places behind McLaren team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne.

• 11th - Ocon
• 12th - Hartley
• 13th - Hulkenberg
• 14th - Gasly
• 15th - Vandoorne
• 16th - Leclerc
• 17th - Alonso
• 18th - Stroll
• 19th - Ericsson
• 20th - Magnussen

1. Ricciardo
2. Verstappen
3. Hamilton
4. Vettel
5. Raikkonen
6. Sainz
7. Bottas
8. Perez
9. Grosjean
10. Sirotkin

So it has been a great start to the day for Daniel Ricciardo, who earlier this week talked of gaining some "redemption".

He came third here in 2017 but is still unhappy about only coming second in 2016.

Two years ago he was leading but a botched pit stop ruined his hopes. He came in for a change of tyres, but Red Bull were not ready and had the wrong set of tyres available. That gave Lewis Hamilton the lead and the Brit went on to win the race.

It is a Red Bull one-two in session one with Daniel Ricciardo leading Max Verstappen.

Image source, Getty Images

Fernando Alonso is back up and running, but still not too much to get excited about. He is down in 17th, faster than only Lance Stroll, Marcus Ericsson and Kevin Magnussen.

Only a couple of minutes left in this session.

Another issue for Romain Grosjean, who again clips the barrier. That's twice he has done that today. Trying too hard? Maybe.

Three out of five races this season have seen a DNF for him and a three-place grid penalty, for causing the lap one carnage last time out in Spain, is already on the cards for him for Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull are working on a brake issue with Daniel Ricciardo. So far it has been a good day for the team with Ricciardo first and Verstappen second, so hopefully nothing too serious there.

Good news McLaren fans. Fernando Alonso, who has spent most of the last hour pacing around the garage looking understandably annoyed, is back on the track.

It has been an eventful hour and a bit for Sergey Sirotkin. He is one of only two men to have not scored a single point this season (along with Romain Grosjean).

Sirotkin has paid a trip to the wall, but is now patched up and up to ninth, sandwiched between the Force Indias of Sergio Perez in eighth and Esteban Ocon in 10th.

T. C.‏: While alonso is pacing around in his garage might he be thinking, "I could have been at @IndyCar, external "?

Tracey Pankhurst‏: What is the main difference between the ultrasoft and the hypersoft tyres because I don’t see why they need another tyre compound?

Jeremiah Kariuki‏: Looks like one circuit where tyres will have a bigger say on who takes the race. The hypers seem to be a struggle for many, yet it was supposed to be the choice of tyre.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

The Monaco Grand Prix is madness - but marvellous madness.

From the minute a driver arrives there, it is impossible not to get caught up in the incredible atmosphere of this most famous Formula 1 race. Winning in Monaco is what every driver dreams about when they are growing up. Parking your car on the main straight and heading to the podium on the palace steps - it sums up this iconic event.

Of course, there is the glamour, the harbour, and the beautiful Cote d'Azur backdrop, but that's the window dressing for the centrepiece of the Monaco Grand Prix - the track itself. There is just nothing else like it.

If you created this circuit elsewhere now and went to the FIA, F1's governing body, for approval, they'd just laugh at you. By F1 track standards, it's ridiculously narrow, with corners so tight you'd barely accept them in the paddock, let alone race around them.

Only when you watch the cars in real life around Monaco can you fully appreciate the skill level it takes to drive it - how narrow it is, how fast the cars fly through the streets and how bonkers the whole race weekend is.

Read more on Jolyon Palmer's thoughts on the Monaco Grand Prix here.

All change at the top of the times. A lap of 1:12.126 from Daniel Ricciardo is now the mark to beat. Max Verstappen's best effort is 1:12.280, but we are not expecting to see him again in this session one.

Hamilton, Vettel and Raikkonen take the next three spots, with a great effort from Renault's Carlos Sainz taking him ahead of Bottas, who is in seventh.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom G@78: Expecting this to be a Red Bull weekend. On recent form you'd have to say that puts Danny Ric in a good position. Bet on how many laps before Max bins it?

Jeremiah Kariuki‏: Romain Grosjean may need to swallow a chill pill, then calm down completely. Having to race on the walls and sand beaches every race weekend will not help his season.

Niamh Lewis‏: Hope one of the Red Bulls wins this weekend. Ricciardo had a great race in China, and I hope Verstappen can build on third in Barcelona. They’re both the fastest so far in FP1 but a lot can happen between now and Sunday!

Send us your thoughts via #bbcf1

We are hearing that Max Verstappen, the quickest man out there so far, has a trip to the stewards to look forward to after reversing back on the track and impeding Kimi Raikkonen.

Image source, Reuters

Well the 'Pink Panthers' of Force India are certainly happy to have a bit more pink on their cars.

Image source, Force India

The cars are debuting the pink hypersoft tyres this weekend, with most of the teams opting for them so far today.

Image source, Pirelli

Verstappen is still quickest with a lap of 1:12.280, and his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo is now back up to second in the time, five hundredths behind.

But Verstappen made a mess of this lap, locking up with smoke coming from his left front and rear tyres, as you can see below.

It has been a bad day for Kevin Magnussen so far, he is down in 19th, unable to have set a representative lap and his Haas is also being worked on again.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier today, Charles Leclerc paid tribute to his childhood friend and former Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi, who died aged 25 in 2015.

Image source, Charles Leclerc