Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Monaco

Image source, Getty Images

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc headed Red Bull's Sergio Perez in a close first practice at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Leclerc, who lost the championship lead to Red Bull's Max Verstappen in Spain, was 0.039 seconds ahead.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz was third, 0.07secs behind Leclerc, with Verstappen fourth after damaging his tyres on his final run with a lock-up.

McLaren's Lando Norris was fifth, Mercedes' George Russell and Lewis Hamilton eighth and 10th.

Fed and watered, ready for second practice.

Lights go green in Monte Carlo at 16:00 BST.

The story of the first session is coming your way...

Are Lewis Hamilton's elbows now well protected with cushiony padding after his first practice problems?

Let's find out...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

No major scares in Monte Carlo in that first practice session but plenty for drivers to improve on as we build-up to the second running this afternoon.

We'll return at 15:30 BST to take you through it. Go and grab a break and we'll see you shortly.

Bye for now.

Mick Schumacher and Valtteri Bottas need to get out of the blocks sharpish for second practice to make up for their lost running.

Lewis Hamilton sounds like he will battered and bruised stepping out of the Mercedes after that opening practice session.

Hamilton finished in 10th place, while team-mate George Russell was nearly three tenths quicker than the seven-time world champion in eighth.

Good session for Ferrari and the Red Bulls lads - and not much to separate the top three.

Sergio Perez comes home in second with a 1:14.570, next up is Leclerc's team-mate Carlos Sainz, just 0.07 seconds away from the Monegasque driver.

In fourth is Max Verstappen with a time of 1:14.712, and a great run out for Lando Norris after his sickness in Spain, the McLaren finishes fifth with a 1:15.056.

"Need elbow pads in this cockpit. Bouncing like mad."

The Ferrari of Carlos Sainz fancies going a bit quicker through the swimming pool section than the Spaniard would prefer. But at a place where so many drivers have come a cropper, Sainz experiences just a slight lock up and can continue with his lap.

Five minutes to go.

Image source, Getty Images

A yellow flag in sector one is briefly waves after Sergio Perez locks up in the Red Bull. The Mexican is able to readjust just as quickly as he hit the brakes and he's back on his way.

1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:14.531

2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.039s

3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.07s

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.181s

5. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.525s

The front-right tyre of Kevin Magnussen is toast after the Haas driver had to escape down the same route as Max Verstappen a few moments earlier.

Valtteri Bottas is the only driver to have set a time so far. On the tyre front, the two Aston Martins of Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll, plus Nicholas Latifi's Williams, are running the soft compounds.

Charles Leclerc, who can give a wave to his friends and family watching on, goes top with a 1:14.531 on a the mediums.

The Red Bull of Max Verstappen comes screeching to a halt after a lock up. The Dutchman luckily finds the only patch of run-off area and avoids a calamity in the opening session of the weekend.

The timing sheets have changed within the blink of an eye as the Red Bulls, fresh from their one-two finish in Barcelona, now head the field.

World champion - and now 2022 title leader - is quickest with a 1:14.712; Perez is just two tenths shy of his team-mate.