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That's the feeling Max Verstappen has after an uncomfortably bumpy start to the weekend in the Red Bull.

"Very difficult," Verstappen said. "It is not something I didn’t expect but it’s definitely at the higher end of the worst possible outcome of the weekend so far."

The three-time world champion also struggled during practice at Imola a week ago before he went on to take his eighth consecutive pole position followed by the race win.

This time around, however, Verstappen isn't focusing on equalling F1 records and podium celebrations.

"We will try to make it a little better but I don’t expect any miracles," he added. "[Ferrari] are miles ahead so I’m not even thinking about that, just want to solve the issues we have."

Good news for Mercedes. George Russell is out early on a set of softs and says the steering, which was causing the Briton issues during Friday's practice sessions, feels better today.

To win around Monte Carlo is a special feeling, it's a special accolade to have that little box ticked within your career.

It's a special place that brings Formula 1 alive.

Max Verstappen has already had the binoculars out this morning doing a spot of people watching with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. Get in the car, Max. Third practice is green.

Commentary is available now at the top of the page using the audio icon.

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Air temperature is 21.3C and track 44.3C. Light wind from the SSE/SE. Dry, with no showers in the vicinity.

Risk of rain is 10%. A slight chance of showers through this afternoon (for qualifying, currently assessed as 20% in FIA guidance).

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Step one of his home race weekend is complete for Charles Leclerc, after the Ferrari man ended the second session 0.188 seconds clear of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes.

Leclerc's lap time of 1:11.278 was quicker than Max Verstappen's pole position time last year.

Fernando Alonso put his Aston Martin in third place, while Max Verstappen finished his hour in fourth spot - but his running was far from a happy experience, as the Dutchman said his car was "bouncing like a kangaroo" and giving him headaches.

Lots of drivers had skirmishes with the barriers as they navigated the tight twists of the Monaco street, including the Dutchman himself at Portier.

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Lewis Hamilton is one of a number of drivers who are sleeping in their own bed this weekend and the seven-time world champion had every reason to get a decent night's kip after his showing in Friday's practice sessions.

"It's been a good day, definitely," said Hamilton. "The best day we've had on track.

"I think the car was feeling really positive. Really enjoying driving it - the track is amazing - and the grip was feeling quite good.

"We still have some challenges with balance but it was looking strong."

Hamilton added that the grip level and how the car was reacting at the Monaco circuit was the biggest surprise to the team. "Definitely a more enjoyable ride than we've had here previously," he added.

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The skies stayed dry as Lewis Hamilton placed his Mercedes to the top of the timesheets, beating out the McLaren of Oscar Piastri and his team-mate George Russell with a time of 1:12.169 on the soft tyre.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who stayed on the medium compound, found his Red Bull struggling around the Monte Carlo streets, highlighting his car felt "loose over the bumps" and finishing his hour of running down in 11th place.

There was a brief red flag when Zhou Guanyu hit the wall at Sainte Devote and left debris strewn across the track with 15 minutes to go.

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Hello again, folks. We've reached day two of the expensive festivities in Monte Carlo.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc where quickest in Friday's practice sessions but championship leader Max Verstappen struggled in his kangaroo-jumping Red Bull.

Third practice gets under way at 11:30 BST.

The fight for pole position goes green at 15:00 BST.

Commentary of the final hour of practice is available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, while qualifying will be online-only via this live page. Just click the audio icon at the top of the page to listen to both sessions.

Welcome back to Jennie Gow, Harry Benjamin, former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestly and BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson.

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You would forgive Charles Leclerc if he had been searching "how to break a curse" in the build-up to this year's Monaco Grand Prix, such is the Monegasque driver's rotten luck around his home streets.

Following a rapid rise to the top of the timesheets in second practice on Friday, is the hex about to be lifted from Leclerc's head, and a race victory crown put in its place instead?

He has to pop his Scuderia on pole position first though....