25/05/2017
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's opening session the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 27 degrees. It is bright and sunny.
While, due to its unique nature, Monaco doesn't witness anything like the broad range of updates witnessed in Barcelona, in the never ending quest for more downforce and grip the teams nonetheless do like to try whatever they can to improve their chances.
Sadly, the path that a number of teams appear to have chosen this weekend is the horrible T-wing, with Force India and Renault having opted for triple deckers. Indeed, even Red Bull, previously a critic of the device, has joined the club.
However, these ever expanding aero devices aren't the only things attracting attention on a weekend when Jenson Button returns to the fray to replace Fernando Alonso.
While other drivers are getting to grips with the fact that on this twistiest and tightest of tracks the cars are now wider, Button will be experiencing the MCL32 for the first time, his only previous experience of the new regs coming courtesy of the simulator.
Another factor of interest - other than the fascinating title battle between Mercedes and Ferrari - will be the new kerb at the exit to the Swimming Pool complex which a number of drivers have described as a launch pad.
One of the first critics of the kerb was Romain Grosjean, recently elected director at the GPDA. Indeed, the fact the drivers weren't even consulted on the kerb beforehand tells you all you need to know.
The lights have barely gone green than there is a mad flurry of activity as Sainz heads out, followed by Hulkenberg, Vettel, Ericsson, Kvyat, Magnussen and a whole host of others including Button. In moments there are 15 cars on track.
A healthy mixture of all three compounds being used, soft, supers and ultras.
Just three minutes into the session, Verstappen (ultras) posts the first time of the weekend, the Red Bull driver crossing the line at 1:19.424.
While the rest of the field is back in the pitlane, the Mercedes duo head out and moments later Bottas posts 19.611 and Hamilton 22.770. The Force India duo is also on track.
While Verstappen and Bottas fail to improve next time around, Hamilton bangs in a 19.610, the Mercedes duo on supersofts.
A 16.852 sees Bottas go quickest, as Stroll posts 28.532 to go fourth.
As Stroll improves to 22.223, Bottas also improves, the Finn posting 16.347.
Bottas continues to chip away, the Finn posting 15.971 then a 15.408. Elsewhere, as Verstappen heads into the pitlane, his place on track is taken by teammate Ricciardo.
The Australian, who was on pole here last year, posts 17.609 to go third.
Bottas gets down to 15.111 and Hamilton 15.342 as Verstappen - who returned to the track having opted not to stop at his garage - posts 15.687 to take third back from his Red Bull teammate.
Having split the Mercedes duo with a 15.306, Verstappen gets it wrong at the Nouveau Chicane just moments after Hamilton locked-up there.
Grosjean appears to kick up a piece of debris, but is it from the Haas or from another car?
Raikkonen's first flying lap sees the Finn go fifth (16.596) while Vettel goes eighth with a 16.947.
Button posts 21.765 to go 14th, just behind his teammate. The Briton is on the soft compound.
Verstappen is told he has a "potential right-rear puncture".
As Ricciardo goes quickest (14.884), the cameras pick up on Raikkonen giving the Swimming Pool barriers a little nudge.
Vettel improves to fifth with a 15.606, ahead of Sainz, Kvyat, Magnussen and Raikkonen.
Cars are continuing to miss the apex at the entry to the Nouveau Chicane.
A 14.289 sees Vettel take the top spot, 0.595s clear of second-placed Ricciardo.
After 25 minutes, all but Hulkenberg, Ericsson, Wehrlein, Massa and Perez have posted times.
Button does a Raikkonen as he too kisses the barriers at the Swimming Pool.
Having abandoned his previous lap just when it looked as though he was going to improve, once again traffic means that Ricciardo has to ease off.
A big lock-up for Raikkonen leaves the Finn with a worryingly large flat-spot.
Sainz goes fifth (15.203), the Spaniard on the supersofts as a time the pace-setters are on the purple-banded rubber. He subsequently improves to third (14.983).
Teammate Kvyat - also on supers - is currently 8th (15.458). The Russian subsequently improves to second with a 14.640 - superb stuff from the Faenza duo.
Check out our Thursday gallery from Monaco, here.
After 35 minutes, Stroll is the busiest driver, having completed 22 laps, while Button is one of several drivers on 17.
Whatever that potential puncture was, the fact is the Dutch youngster's car is currently up on its stand and it appears the floor is being changed.
Perez goes second on the ultras, the top eighth drivers now covered by 0.822.
"The pattern of track evolution is very different to anywhere else as the Monaco circuit is open to public traffic every night," says Pirelli. "Don't underestimate the effect of that: it's a bit like letting 500,000 people run around the pitch the night before the World Cup final."
At the 40 minute mark, the time when drivers have to hand back their extra set of tyres, The Mercedes duo and Massa head out, clearly eager to take advantage of the empty track.
Hamilton goes second (14.355) but is almost instantly demoted by teammate Bottas who posts 14.301.
Still no time from Hulkenberg or Ericsson, the German's car sporting the ERS warning notice. Both drivers have only completed 3 laps.
Again Hamilton goes quickest (13.945), this time to take the top spot, only to be upstaged by his teammate who posts 13.828. The Briton subsequently responds with a 13.429.
Renault confirms that it is investigating Hulkenberg's energy store. Ericsson's problem is gearbox related and as a result the Swede is unlikely to play any further part in the session.
A slight improvement for Hamilton (13.425) as Vettel heads out on a new set of ultras. The German is currently 0.864s off his rival's pace.
As Vettel becomes the latest to try his luck with the Swimming Pool barriers, he asks his team to check that the car has not incurred damage. Despite the close encounter he closes the gap to Hamilton to 0.635s.
A 13.950 sees Ricciardo leapfrog Vettel to take third, while work continues on Verstappen's car. The Australian reports "a bit of a loss of power".
Having continued to chip away at Hamilton's time, Vettel finally posts a 13.621 to close to within 0.196 of his title rival.
After one hour, it's: Hamilton, Vettel, Bottas, Ricciardo, Perez, Massa, Kvyat, Sainz, Ocon and Magnussen.
Verstappen is back on track, the Dutchman currently 12th (15.296).
Having done all his running on the softs, Button is now on the ultras. The Briton improves from 18.063 to 16.616 but remains last of those 18 drivers who have posted times. That said, teammate Vandoorne is currently 16th (16.046).
As Verstappen improves with a 14.518, Grosjean heads off down the escape road at Ste Devote.
A 15.905 sees Button go 16th, while Vandoorne posts 15.485 to go 14th.
"Problems every time at Turn 1, I don't know what to do," wails Grosjean as he locks-up at the Swimming Pool.
As Verstappen improves to fourth (13.816), the Toro Rosso duo remain sixth (Kvyat) and ninth, still yet to try the ultrasoft rubber.
Another improvement for Verstappen as the Red Bull driver takes third with a 13.781.
Perez almost trips up over Verstappen, who appears unaware how close the Force India was. He pulls aside for the Mexican.
Vettel carries too much speed into the Chicane and has to drive over the no-man's land behind the kerb - he isn't the first and he won't be the last.
The session ends, with Hamilton quickest, ahead of Vettel, Verstappen, Bottas, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Raikkonen, Perez, Sainz and Ocon.
Massa is eleventh, ahead of Vandoorne, Magnussen, Button, Grosjean, Stroll, Palmer and Wehrlein, with neither Hulkenberg or Ericsson posting a time.
Some impressive performances this morning, not least Mr Button, while the pace of the Toro Rosso duo - who never tried the ultrasofts - suggests the Faenza team could spring a surprise.
Check out our Thursday gallery from Monaco, here.