Key events
LIGHTS OUT
And away we go!
Is change needed? â100% yes,â says James Jones. âThis season actually has some promise of not being a total Max procession to the title, but Iâm not going to waste a minute of my day watching a queue of cars canter around Monaco. The race was over in qualifying and it is exceptionally dull.â
Is change needed?
She was in Endeavour which I find very exciting.
Michael Douglas passes on Catherine Zeta Jonesâ apologies to Brundle.
Anya Taylor-Joy is here to support Lewis Hamilton and claims she was brought up watching F1. This is classic stuff.
I have no idea who she is. Will Google.
Siya Kolisi has a can of Red Bull and discussing the difficulties of overtaking. It is âall about strategy and when you make the stopsâ.
Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers actually has some history of attending the event and is looking forward to an âexciting dayâ.
Ben Chilwell is there with Red Bull and seems to know next to nothing about the motorsport, but who could turn down a trip to Monaco?
Joe Pearson emails: âGrowing up in Indianapolis, this was always one of Racingâs biggest days. Monaco GP in the morning, followed by the Greatest Spectacle in Racing (which will almost certainly be delayed by rain today), and then the World 600 (now Coca Cola 600) in Charlotte as a cozy nightcap. Settling in for a day of cars going round and round but getting nowhere, with a temporary detour to watch the Championship Final. Iâm tired already.â
Kylian Mbappe says he is not faster than an F1 car. Good to have clarity.
Martin Brundle is wandering through the grid. He has found Diogo Dalot and Antony. He enjoyed winning the FA Cup and is celebrating by turning up for his first F1 race.
The pit stop teams have gone through rigorous warm ups to make sure they are in tip top condition for the race. Pit stops could be crucial today with so little overtaken generally available on this track.
The drivers are warming up the tyres on what looks like a lovely day in Monaco.
There is a lot of celebrity spotting going in Monte Carlo. Michael Douglas, Kylian Mbappe and lots of young famous people.
A tricky day in store for Verstappen.
Nigel Mansell has had a natter with our very own Giles Richards.
The big news is that I am trying a new brand of mint tea for the Unwin household. Will it be welcome back long term? One way to find out.
What happened yesterday.
Starting grid:
1. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
2. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
3. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4. Lando Norris, McLaren
5. George Russell, Mercedes
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
7. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
8. Yuki Tsunoda, RB
9. Alex Albon, Williams
10. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
11. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
12. Daniel Ricciardo, RB
13. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
14. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
15. Logan Sargeant, Williams
16. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
17. Valtteri Bottas, Sauber
18. Zhou Guanyu, Sauber
19. Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
20. Kevin Magnussen, Haas
Preamble
Charles Leclerc starts on pole and Max Verstappen is way down in sixth after an underwhelming qualifying session. Can the Red Bull perform some magical overtaking on a notoriously difficult circuit for such events? It will be intriguing to see.
This is Leclercâs home race and he knows more than most what needs to be done to keep the chasing pack in his rear view mirror. The Frenchman winning this grand prix would be the culmination of a lifelong dream but life is rarely that simple, and there will be plenty behind him eager to chase him down.
Verstappen can comfort himself by the fact he starts 48 points clear atop the driversâ championship and will be confident that no one will be able to catch him over the course of the season.
Race start: 2pm BST.
