More from Valtteri Bottas, who finishes third: "I think it could've been a lot worse in the end.

"My stop was slower than Lewis and that's why we had the incident with Max. For sure it was disappointing as I had the speed but to finish third is not too satisfying but it could've been worse."

Charles Leclerc, our unfortunate loser for today, says: "It was difficult and it was as I said before the race, I had to take a lot of risks but unfortunately it ended in disaster but that's Monaco when you start 15th which isn't our real pace position."

Verstappen gets two points stuck on his licence, following that unsafe release that saw him bang into Bottas, giving him a puncture.

Andre Murray: Driver of the day should go to Bono! Fantastic team

Bishaaj: Is this the weekend that Valteri Bottas cracked and gave in to Lewis Hamilton superiority and hunger for the rest of the season?

Daryl Thackeray: So impressive from Lewis Hamilton beautiful race from the realms of miracles no other driver could have delivered that win.

You can't blame Bottas for that one. Verstappen went into him after an unsafe release from Red Bull and the Finn instantly had to pit again. That ruined any hopes he had of winning it.

Image source, Reuters

It wouldn't be Monaco without a celebratory jump in the pool and Lewis Hamilton is happy to take the plunge.

Our chief F1 writer Andrew Benson thinks Lewis Hamilton is worthy of the title instead. Who do you think and why? Tweet us using #bbcf1

Anthems over, normally the top three spray their champagne from the podium, but not in Monaco. Hamilton, with champagne in hand, sprints down the track trying to soak as many of his team and media as he can do.

Great energy left in the world champion, even after a draining and tiring race.

A rousing version of the national anthems with an on-track band. Can they do this every race? Something a bit more special than normal.

Valtteri Bottas claimed third as Max Verstappen's five-second penalty pushes him back to fourth. The Finn says: "It's obviously disappointing for me, I think the speed was there and I was feeling good in the car.

"It was small margins yesterday and that made today difficult. Max got me in the pitlane and left me with no room and then I was stuck behind, it was like a Sunday drive."

Sebastian Vettel, who finished second, says: "A tough race to manage, at Monaco something always happens, Max must have had an incredible stop, I saw them (Verstappen and Bottas) touching in the pit lane.

"I thought there was a good chance we could capitalise on Valtteri's puncture, which was a shame for him, and we tried to stay in range (of Verstappen). I wanted to put some more pressure on, I just struggled with my tyres, not as badly as Lewis and Max's, but mine were just not getting hot.

"It was a bit tricky but a great result and we have a lot of work to do - we are not quick enough compared to these guys. Niki (Lauda) would be happy today, he will always be around, we will definitely miss him. He's an icon in the past and in the future, my thoughts are with his family."

Lewis Hamilton, our winner in Monaco, says: "That was definitely the hardest race I've had but nonetheless I really was fighting with the spirit of Niki - he's been such an influence in our team and I know he will be looking down and taking his hat off. I was trying to stay focused and make him proud that it's been the goal all week and we truly miss him.

"I've not driven on empty tyres since 2009 when McLaren left me out in Shanghai for such a long time. It's great crowds here and I hope it wasn't boring.

"It was intense I was never going to come in, I learnt the hard way, I wasn't going to come in whether I crashed or finished. Ultimately it was the wrong tyre, if you look at my back tyre we touched at the chicane but the team has done an incredible job and I'm so proud to be a part of it and I hope I can continue to do well.

"It was close, it was a late dive by Max, luckily I saw him last minute, I think his front wing was beside my rear wheel, I was scared that I had no tyres left."

Neville Cooper: Why, why, why didn't Max back off with five to go, allow a 10 second gap and put some red hot laps on for last three laps. He would have got at least third then. Why didn't he get it?

Nicola: Well that was tense! Hard work but what a win for Hamilton in the end... Those kind of wins is how he earns his money

Sam: He was made to work for that one congrats on a superb drive Lewis Hamilton by far the best driver of our generation

Javel: That was a big, big race from Hamilton Much harder than it looked.

Image source, Getty Images

Hamilton and Verstappen are under investigation for that late bump. That could still be our big story.

A massive assist to Hamilton's engineer Pete Bonnington, who managed to stay calm, and keep Hamilton calm (ish) as the Brit won the race.

Jack Nicholls
BBC Radio 5 Live F1 commentator

That's not going to feel good for Bottas! James saying Lewis is the only one who could do that.

Image source, Reuters

Pete Bonnington, Hamilton's race engineer: "Get in there Lewis that one is for Niki mate, that one is for Niki."

James Vowles, Mercedes chief strategist: "Lewis, it's James. Incredible job, really well done. No one else could've done that."

Toto Wolff, Mercedes team boss: "Lewis that was a victory for Niki, unbelievable job, congratulations."

1. Hamilton
2. Vettel
3. Bottas
4. Verstappen
5. Gasly
6. Sainz
7. Kvyat
8. Albon
9. Ricciardo
10. Grosjean
11. Norris
12. Magnussen
13. Perez
14. Hulkenberg
15. Russell
16. Stroll
17. Raikkonen
18. Kubica
19. Giovinazzi

DNF - Leclerc.