Andrew Benson, our chief F1 writer on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentary duty, has an explanation regarding Fernando Alonso's 17th place: "Fernando Alonso's only been running on the softs. He's doing aero tests."

Inge: Why not Max at Ferrari, and Leclerc at Red Bull? Max would not be anyone's second, let alone Vettel, which is good for racing. Then the mechanics at Red Bull would have some quieter days, and Leclerc would continue to learn with a big and friendlier team.

Euan: I'd like to see Kimi stay in F1. He is still a talented driver, he has shown that this season. He just needs to be at least on equal terms with his teammate and not playing second fiddle. Additionally, Kimi to Williams? Get someone very experienced in to teach Stroll and Sirotkin.

At the tail end of the standings, by the way, it's a very familar story, with McLaren and Williams struggling to make any kind of impression. Fernando Alonso - in 17th - has just done the sort of lap that you'd do if stuck in traffic. Brendon Hartley, in the second Toro Rosso, is slower than everyone bar Robert Kubica.

Meanwhile, Lance Stroll is complaining on the Williams radio. "There's something wrong with the downshift," he says, before coming into the pits and being rolled back into the garage.

Image source, Reuters

1) HAM 1:04.839

2) BOT +0.127

3) VER +0.233

4) VET +0.341

5) RIC +0.644

6) RAI +0.937

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Rod: I think Haas is just keeping Grosjean away from all of the other drivers.

Jon: I've been a huge fan of Grosjean for years, but the mistakes...oh the mistakes. I hope he can turn it around and put in some inspired performances like he did at times at Lotus.

Amit: Has anyone worked out how close the field would be and how the championship would be if you took out the top 3 teams? Midfield seems incredibly close this year.

The inlet on the sidepod area has been reduced and moved back 12cm to improve airflow, as well as taking the McLaren approach to their rear mirrors featuring vertical slots, also improving airflow.

Daniel Ricciardo has rejoined us, the work on his Red Bull now finished. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen runs wide at Turn One, over the apex, but recovers. He's not really improving his times, though - he's struggling on his tyres

The drivers to catch are the Mercedes duo, who are looking very promising so far, one-two in the standings.

Image source, Getty Images

1) HAM 1:04.839

2) BOT +0.127

3) VER +0.233

4) VET +0.341

5) RIC +0.732

6) RAI +0.937

Leclerc is one of the drivers being touted to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next season. Kevin Magnussen is another who has been linked with the seat, should Raikkonen not be retained.

Magnussen, currently with Haas, took the diplomatic route when asked aboutthat possibility this week.

"I like being at Haas," he said. "Unless I have an offer from a top team, I don't see a better place to be. And I don't have an offer from a top team.

"It's not something I'm focusing on. Like many others, I dream of racing for a top team, but right now my focus is on Haas."

Image source, Reuters

Sauber's Charles Leclerc, who was outstanding in qualifying eighth in France before finishing 10th in the race, is ninth fastest so far here. He's just had a minor disagreement with his engineers over the team radio over the best way to approach Turn One - the team seem to think he can brake later into the turn than he is.

Image source, Getty Images

Rhydian: It's pretty clear that McLaren's got a problem far deeper than their car. I don't doubt the skill of their engineers, but I think the leadership has massive issues.

Chris Marsh: If Lewis is starting a music career could we get Kimi selling ice creams, Alonso as a deckchair model and Seb teaching anger management courses?

I'm trying to picture Kimi Raikkonen as a jovial ice cream seller. I'll square with you - it's a struggle.

Robert Kubica says over the Williams team radio that he has huge vibrations straight away on his new tyres. Not ideal.

This may have opened up a whole new angle for debate here - the pop star/F1 driver crossover.

Who remembers the soft rock album that Jacques Villeneuve released in 1997. Or the time the late, great Ayrton Senna appeared on stage with Tina Turner?

Lewis Hamilton is a real multi-tasker these days. When he's not leading the Formula 1 drivers' championship, he's also adding his voice to music tracks.

He has, the Daily Mirror reports, made his singing debut on "a sultry Christina Agiluera song" under the pseudonym XNDA. Judge for yourself here., external

There's no truth in the rumour that Aguilera is going to return the favour by driving for Mercedes at the British Grand Prix.

Image source, Getty Images

Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

"Daniel Ricciardo is out of his Red Bull at the moment. The mechanics are doing a lot of work on the front left braking - there are four of them working on it. They're not doing it on the front right, just the front left."

Image source, Reuters

1) HAM 1:05.037

1) BOT +0.317

3) VET +0.526

4) RIC +0.534

5) VER +0.665

6) RAI +0.739

Greg Kingston: Kimi's making mistakes under pressure but Leclerc isn't immune to them either. His opening lap error in France cost him at least one, maybe two places. That said, I'd still put him in the 2019 Ferrari over Kimi. Vettel needs the competition, and Kimi provides none

Toby: Do you feel Max would have got pole and the Race in Monaco if he had been in contention in Quali? Given his usual Q performance in general over Daniel?

Kayleigh: Anyone hear ‘Robert Kubica’ and automatically sing “Robert Kubica, sha la la la la” like the fans from winter testing? No, just me? All right.

Stoffel Vandoorne is out of his McLaren as the cracked front wing is repaired. There's a very noisy angle grinder chopping bits off the damaged section. "It sounds as if someone's got an appointment with the dentist," says out pit lane reporter Jennie Gow, audibly wincing.

Image source, Getty Images