Zhou Guanyu has pitted in the Sauber and has strapped on some soft tyres. The Chinese driver fancies a bonus point for fastest lap.

The tyres at the front of the field are in the pensioner bracket now, but unless something crazy happens, we'll probably stay Charles Leclerc in first, Oscar Piastri second and Carlos Sainz in third.

Piastri is struggling slightly, however...

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Piastri is coming under a bit of pressure from Carlos Sainz behind, the Ferrari closing right up behind him.

It's been quite an intriguing race, in the last ten laps it has proven to be a real interest in strategy and tyre management.

Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz enter the Tunnel once again and the Ferrari driver is sticking closer to his younger McLaren rival. Lando Norris is in fourth, George Russell is still in fifth but Max Verstappen has been told he can go for the Mercedes driver again...

That chequered flag is getting closer and closer for Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver is 3.2secs ahead of the McLaren of Oscar Piastri in second, with Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz occupying the final podium place.

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Leclerc has driven superbly from the beginning of this weekend, he has been on the pace and challenging at the sharp end.

Verstappen has spent all weekend complaining about the handling of his Red Bull as it's bumpy and doesn't handle the kerbs well at all.

Can he put together a challenge on Russell in a car that Russell is quite well enjoying driving around this Monaco circuit?

The TV cameras give us a wide shot of the Mercedes garage as the mechanics sit patiently watching the action. Not much pit activity for the crew to contend with today.

Yuki Tsunoda has some points in his shopping car for himself and the team. His RB engineer tells the Japanese racer that he is now free to push, something Tsunoda says he likes to hear.

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Lewis Hamilton, in seventh, is continuing to clock fastest laps in Mercedes. The Ferrari of Charles Leclerc is taking the applause of the Monaco crowd. They can sense what's coming.

The one big problem that Verstappen has here is the Mercedes in qualifying was the fastest car of anybody on track in the high speed sections of the race track.

Those are the opportunities for Verstappen to close up and he just can't do it at this point.

Chris Lord: Verstappen doing what Norris did to him last week but can he do it.

The local hero, Charles Leclerc is so close to making the podium (and winning) in Monaco for the very first time in his Formula 1 career. In the battle for fifth, George Russell only needs to glance in his mirror to see three-time world champion Max Verstappen on fresh hard tyres.

Verstappen has been closing on George Russell on two seconds per lap, he is right up behind him now.

This is a challenge that is going to put Russell under huge pressure.

Max Verstappen is right on the tail of George Russell as the pair head into the Tunnel. The Mercedes man stays cool under the pressure through the chicanes and as we reach lap 63, the Briton stays ahead of the Dutchman.

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Charles Leclerc who is sitting at the front here does not under any circumstances want to come into the pits, but behind him there is still a definite chance that things could change with Max Verstappen approaching very quickly.

That fifth place of George Russell is within sight for Max Verstappen to attack. Will the Dutchman get the opportunity?

Carlos Sainz in third can't shake Lando Norris in the McLaren who is right behind him and looks like he's been getting more aggressive in the last lap.

Red Bull have changed the game for the front four because that threat that is in the horizon towards the end of the race with Verstappen, means Lando Norris at least has to take that opportunity of the free pit-stop.