BBC Radio 5 live

Sir Jackie Stewart on BBC Radio 5 live: "I am ready for the rain if it comes, but I hope it doesn't come. I hope the young Australian - Daniel Ricciardo - win this."

Ian Fergusson
BBC weather reporter

A few spots of light rain around lately, but an otherwise dry event is expected under a good deal of cloud. Breezy; 26C with track temperature currently at 34C

The top 10 are all starting on the light pink hypersoft tyres. We also have the red supersoft and purple ultrasofts available today.

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Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Monaco

Pole man Daniel Ricciardo heading to the grid.

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So good news for Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton then?

It will be a special moment for Charles Leclerc as the Monaco man competes in his home grand prix today.

Earlier this week he paid tribute to his childhood friend and F1 driver Jules Bianchi, who sadly died aged 25 back in 2015

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Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Monaco

Fernando Alonso - most unusually - was struggling throughout the practice sessions in Monaco but pulled it together for qualifying to line up seventh after some late set-up changes transformed the car to his liking.

The Spaniard praised the team, saying they had done a “great job understanding some of the issues”. But Gil De Ferran, the former IndyCar driver who is working as a roving adviser to McLaren, also provided a great insight into the qualities that make Alonso stand out. The Brazilian said he was stunned by Alonso’s first lap in qualifying. De Ferran said: “At Tabac, on his first push lap, he braked later, less, carried more speed and exited faster by a huge amount than any lap before. I was like (vivid wide-eyed expression). He’s also mighty at Sainte Devote.”

Actually, De Ferran said, both McLaren drivers had done a good job. Vandoorne had been competitive all weekend, only for the issue to hit just before qualifying. It was something that could not be changed in time so he had to deal with a most unsatisfactory balance as a result. He ended up 12th but said: “Considering the problems we had the pace was quite promising.”

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Monaco

Verstappen needed a new MGU-K now as well. That's a penalty because it's his third of the season (and only two are allowed), but that's immaterial because he's at the back anyway. Next time, though, and there will be a next time, that's a grid drop.

Grant Kennett: This is the race that will make or break Verstappen’s short career. If he storms through to healthy points, he’ll be back on the perch. ANY contact, and he’ll be forever perched on a step alongside Mr. Grosjean...

Inge‏: I hope Alonso will get a flat tyre in the last lap, while in a good position (Liverpool fan).

Move on Inge, move on.

This is great. American football legend Tom Brady tested out Daniel Ricciardo's catching ability. Brady was on the land, Ricciardo on a yacht.

BBC Sport app users may need to click on the link to see the video.

Some more celebrities at the Force India garage, including Game of Thrones actors Nikolaj Coster Waldau, Kit Harrington and Liam Cunningham, actor Alfonso Ribeiro (of Fresh Prince of Bel Air fame) and Norweigan Winter Olympic gold medallists Andreas Stijernen, Robert Johansson and Johann Forfang.

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Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Monaco

Saturday was a good day for Carlos Sainz for two reasons. One, he beat Renault team-mate on merit in qualifying for the first time, and two his beloved Real Madrid (his friend Fernando Alonso is also a fan) won the Champions League that evening. He said he felt “very positive”, but said the race would be complicated with all the strategy options.

“A one-stop strategy on the hyper-soft won’t be easy with tyre degradation, so it might be one of the hardest Monaco races in recent seasons," said Sainz. "The under-cuts and over-cuts will play a big part and so will traffic. We have some things to think about.”

Liverpool fans may have been hoping for absolutely no mention of anything football-related after last night's action but Spanish drivers Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz are probably still in a great mood after their Real Madrid team became European champions. Again.

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Kayleigh: With rain, I think Max will do something exciting and get to the podium. Dry race and we’ve got a procession on our hands. Though hoping Vettel jumps Ricciardo at the start!

Rhonan Colquhoun: Red Bull need to make sure that they get everything right on their part today to aid Ricciardo but if they slip up - they might just end up pushing him away and the chance of keeping him for 2019.

BBC Radio 5 live

We have live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live from 14:00 BST. Our team are in place.

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Image source, Huw Evans picture agency

Who will be celebrating, who will be disappointed?

Amid the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo, can Lewis Hamilton extend his winning streak? Predict your podium top three in Monaco.

We get going in less than an hour, so there is still time to listen to the Chequered Flag Podcast, as BBC Radio 5 live's Jack Nicholls, Jennie Gow and Jolyon Palmer preview all the action.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Light rain has mostly stopped. It’s still dry. Doesn’t look like it’s going to rain properly but who knows? Well, the weather people, I suppose. Anyway, it’s nearly race time. Go, go, go at 14:10 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

It may not be a night race, but the stars always come out for the Monaco Grand Prix. It's the grand prix everyone wants to be at, and sometimes there are more celebrities than drivers in the paddock.

But just how good have you been at celeb spotting in Monaco over the years? Jose Mourinho or Arsene Wenger? R2D2 or Robocop? Can you remember which celebs have been spotted at the Monaco GP over the years?

Take our quiz to see if you can remember which celebrities have been snapped at the race and which ones - so far - haven't.

And there's more..

Four Weddings and a Funeral actor Hugh Grant, a big Formula 1 fan, is seen here with his wife, TV producer Anna Eberstein.

Image source, Getty Images