F1 Monaco Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying updates and FP3 times

Formula 1 returns to one of its most famous races - the Monaco Grand Prix - after the unfortunate cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with a crucial qualifying session to be held this afternoon.

F1 was forced to cancel the Imola race weekend due to adverse weather and flooding in the region, with the event at this stage unlikely to be rescheduled amid the congested 2023 calendar. Yet teams and drivers will now turn their attention to the tight twists and turns of the world-renowned Circuit de Monaco for the next round of the season.

• PREVIEW: Monaco Grand Prix offers best chance yet of end to Red Bull supremacy

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez won last year’s race in wet conditions, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in second and Max Verstappen third. Hometown favourite Charles Leclerc has never been on the podium at his home race, while Mercedes will be eyeing improvements as they introduce upgrades to Lewis Hamilton’s and George Russell’s cars.

Carlos Sainz was quickest in first practice on Friday with Max Verstappen top of the timesheets in FP2.

Follow F1 qualifying live with The Independent - FP3 is at 11:30am before qualifying at 3pm (BST)

F1 QUALIFYING - MONACO GRAND PRIX

• FP3 in Monaco starts at 11:30am; qualifying is at 3pm (BST)

• WEEKEND PREVIEW: Monaco GP offers best chance yet of end to Red Bull supremacy

• Carlos Sainz was quickest in FP1 on Friday; Max Verstappen fastest in second practice

• COMMENT: Lewis Hamilton has shut the door on Ferrari – will he come to regret it?

Lando Norris, speaking about that incident with Charles Leclerc:

17:12 , Kieran Jackson

“He blocked me, simple as that.”

What do you think should happen? “A penalty for him. Disqualified or something. One rule, don’t slow down in the middle of the tunnel.”

That “disqualified” was said with a smile on his face!

Esteban Ocon, after a brilliant P4:

17:03 , Kieran Jackson

“I did enjoy that one, what a day! Fourth on the grid, we’ve had definitely signed. I hit the wall, but the car stayed in one piece. Very pleased with the work we’ve done, can be proud of the work we’ve done.

“Hoping it will cause some chaos, get a couple of positions!”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner:

16:55 , Kieran Jackson

On Verstappen at pole: “When he arrived at the swimming pool he was 0.2 secs down on Fernando, I could see him gaining the time - and he just did it!”

“Elated for Max. Probably the best qualifying lap of his career. For Checo, a mistake in Q1 - I can only think he was distracted by the Alpine on the right. He’ll be kicking himself for that! He just went in too fast.”

On race: “There’s great respect betwen Max and Fernando but they’re similar characters - they’re both hard racers! That first 500m is what’s going to dictate this grand prix!”

Here’s the top-10 for the Monaco Grand Prix!

16:45 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen

2) Fernando Alonso

3) Charles Leclerc

4) Esteban Ocon

5) Carlos Sainz

6) Lewis Hamilton

7) Pierre Gasly

8) George Russell

9) Yuki Tsunoda

10) Lando Norris

Full grid below:

F1 grid: Starting positions for Monaco Grand Prix after qualifying

BREAKING - Charles Leclerc under investigation by the stewards

16:39 , Kieran Jackson

The Ferrari man could be in trouble here - looks like he clearly impeded Lando Norris.

What will the punishment be, I wonder?

Fernando Alonso, after clinching P2:

16:36 , Kieran Jackson

“I feel good, Max was a little bit faster. Shame. First row on the grid is a big thing for us, last sector is weakest point. Let’s see what we can do with strategy - we will try to win!

“It’s very short into turn 1, we normally have a good start. Max is a little bit inconsistent so maybe it’s one of those bad ones tomorrow!”

Max Verstappen after coming P1:

16:30 , Kieran Jackson

“Very happy. We kept on improving, in qualifying you need to go all out. My first sector wasn’t ideal on my final lap, the last sector I gave it everything, clipped a few barriers, very happy to start on pole.

“We need a clean start, short run to turn 1. There’s always chaos involved, race-pace the car is quick!”

Charles Leclerc after coming P3

16:25 , Kieran Jackson

“I’m not satisfied with P3. Tricky qualifying weekend, struggled a lot with the car. I was more at ease in qualifying, we were very close to pole. I would have preferred first of course.”

Watch those final moments of qualifying!

16:22 , Kieran Jackson

By far, the best qualifying session of the season so far!

Max Verstappen clinches pole position!

16:13 , Kieran Jackson

Can you believe it?! Right at the death... Max Verstappen takes pole, 0.084 secs quicker than Fernando Alonso!

“We had to pull that out the bag,” he exclaims!

Charles Leclerc in third, Esteban Ocon fourth!

5-10: Sainz, Hamilton, Gasly, Russell, Tsunoda, Norris

A thrilling qualifying session! Aston Martin denied a dream pole!

Fernando Alonso back on provisional pole!

16:11 , Kieran Jackson

Thrilling stuff as Fernando Alonso goes quickest!

Max Verstappen just starts his final hot lap...

Charles Leclerc now quickest!

16:11 , Kieran Jackson

A huge roar in the grand stand - as Charles Leclerc goes fastest!

But Fernando Alonso on a flier...

Esteban Ocon now on provisional pole!

16:10 , Kieran Jackson

Wow! Esteban Ocon has provisional pole - 1:11:533! A stunner from the Alpine driver!

Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso will have one more go each...

The track continuing to ramp up! 2 to go!

Max Verstappen just beats Fernando Alonso’s time!

16:08 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen isn’t done yet - he’s now gone fastest with a 1:11:654, 0.052 secs quicker than Fernando Alonso!

And Lewis Hamilton goes third-fastest - the track continues to evolve!

Whoever can set their hot lap last may have an advantage here!

George Russell goes fourth-fastest!

16:06 , Kieran Jackson

Nice job from George Russell - he’s two-tenths down on Alonso in fourth place!

Max Verstappen now fifth!

And it looks like Lando Norris is ready to get out on track - brilliant work from the McLaren crew!

Current top-10: Alonso, Sainz, Leclerc, Russell, Verstappen, Ocon, Gasly, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Norris

5 minutes to go...

Fernando Alonso is on provisional pole!

16:05 , Kieran Jackson

Wow wow wow! Fernando Alonso is four-tenths quicker than Max Verstappen after their first runs - with the Aston Martin driver posting a 1:11:706!

Carlos Sainz just 0.029 seconds behind in second, with Charles Leclerc in third - Max Verstappen only fourth!

5-10: Ocon, Gasly, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Russell (no time), Norris (no time)

“I’m pushing like an animal,” says Alonso!

Lando Norris, incidentally, still in the pits. Seven minutes left...

Q3 underway!

16:00 , Kieran Jackson

Here we go again - the top-10 shootout in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix!

10 drivers involved: Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Alonso, Gasly, Ocon, Tsunoda, Norris

Who will be on pole?!

Lewis Hamilton makes it!

15:54 , Kieran Jackson

Brilliant final lap from Lewis Hamilton once again - he goes P5! “Man this car’s hard to drive mate,” Hamilton says over team radio.

He knocks Oscar Piastri out! McLaren team-mate Lando Norris is P10 - but will his damaged car be ready in time for Q3?!

Bottom five (11-15) and OUT of qualifying: Piastri, De Vries, Albon, Stroll, Bottas

Poor show there from Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in P14, who is also under investigation from the FIA for failing to weigh the car properly in the pits...

Lando Norris hits the wall!

15:51 , Kieran Jackson

Lando Norris ruins his lap ahead of the swimming pool chicane - but manages to get his McLaren back to the pits!

One minute to go - Norris currently P9!

Lewis Hamilton still in the bottom-five! One more lap - and a massive queue in sector three!

One minute left...

Lewis Hamilton only P11 on new softs

15:50 , Kieran Jackson

George Russell puts in a good time on new softs to go P3 - just three-tenths short of Max Verstappen up top - but Lewis Hamilton can only go P11!

Hamilton: “I feel like there’s something wrong with my right-rear,” he says.

Current bottom-five (11-15): Hamilton, Bottas, Albon, Stroll, De Vries

Three minutes to go!

George Russell currently in the bottom-five

15:44 , Kieran Jackson

Both the Mercedes boys have done two laps on used tyres - with Lewis Hamilton P9 and George Russell P11.

They’ll now switch to new softs.

Bottom-five currently (11-15): Russell, Albon, Stroll, De Vries, Tsunoda

Top-3: Verstappen, Alonso, Gasly

Seven minutes to go...

Q2 underway in Monaco!

15:37 , Kieran Jackson

Now 15 minutes for Q2 to see who will be the 10 drivers in the pole position shootout in Q3!

The Ferraris and Mercedes’ cars straight out on track...

A reminder from Q1: Sergio Perez will start tomorrow’s race in last place, P20.

Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton make it!

15:32 , Kieran Jackson

Tetchy stuff for Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton - but they both make the top-15 comfortably in the end!

“Am I in?” asks a frantic Hamilton after his lap! He was nervous!

Bottom-five and OUT of qualifying - 16-20: Sargeant, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Zhou, Perez

Nyck de Vries sneaks through in P15...

Wow, that was frenetic!

Lewis Hamilton goes off the circuit!

15:28 , Kieran Jackson

He’s pushing frantically for the start line now to get another lap in!

Hamilton currently P15; Sainz P17!

Seconds left...

Lewis Hamilton goes only 12th-fastest!

15:26 , Kieran Jackson

The seven-time world champion still in trouble - only 12th fastest on his used soft tyres. He’ll have to be safe and quickly switch to new softs here..

Current bottom-five (16-20): Zhou, Sargeant, Perez, Magnussen, Hulkenberg

Carlos Sainz also in a precarious position in 15th - just 0.0522 secs quicker of 16th!

Two minutes left!

Lewis Hamilton still in bottom-five in Q1!

15:23 , Kieran Jackson

Wow - what a bizarre order we have at the moment! This track is evolving massively! Alonso 1st, Ocon 2nd, Gasly 3rd.

Lewis Hamilton is now 17th, with Sergio Perez DEFINITELY out of qualifying in Q1 in 18th!

Current bottom-five (16-20): Sargeant, Hamilton, Perez, Magnussen, Hulkenberg

Q1 back underway!

15:20 , Kieran Jackson

Sergio Perez trudges gloomily back to the pits as the session resumes with 11 minutes left!

I reckon each car will be able to get another two hot laps in here, as the track constantly evolves.

Perez currently P5. Where will that one time of his put him on the timesheets?

Bottom-five (16-20): Hamilton, De Vries, Sargeant, Sainz, Albon

Sergio Perez sounds distraught over team radio

15:10 , Kieran Jackson

“F*** I crashed, I crashed,” Sergio Perez says.

Devastating for the world championship contender!

His already-recorded time means he could, technically, make Q2 but with his car being lifted up by a crane, he won’t be able to take part!

Sergio Perez crashes - RED FLAG!

15:09 , Kieran Jackson

Oh jeez - a shocker here early on!

Sergio Perez has hit the wall by turn 1 and is stranded in the middle of the track! And he can’t move his Red Bull - he’s out of qualifying!

He will start no better than 15th tomorrow! The Mexican slid straight into the wall!

A hefty shunt!

Max Verstappen quickest so far, Fernando Alonso just 0.1 secs down

15:07 , Kieran Jackson

It could be exciting by the time Q3 rolls around! Max Verstappen on top after the first runs with a 1:13:784, with Sergio Perez second - 0.066 secs down. Fernando Alonso bang on 0.1 secs down on Verstappen.

But that doesn’t really matter right now! Bottom-five currently (16-20): De Vries, Sargeant, Piastri, Sainz, Albon

Q1 underway in Monaco!

15:01 , Kieran Jackson

The Williams pair of Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant first out the pit lane in what is set to be a very busy and congested session!

18 minutes, where by the end we will lose the slowest five drivers ranked 16-20.

Traffic incoming!

We’re about to get underway with qualifying in Monaco!

14:59 , Kieran Jackson

We’re moments away from Q1 in Monaco!

A beautiful day in the principality - a 0% chance of rain.

Charles Leclerc going for three poles in a row!

14:55 , Kieran Jackson

Can the Monegasque be the first driver since Ayrton Senna to clinch three pole positions in a row in Monaco?

Monaco Grand Prix qualifying is just 10 minutes away!

14:50 , Kieran Jackson

Who will be on pole position for tomorrow’s Monaco Grand Prix?

Today’s qualifying will be crucial - perhaps more so than any other race - in setting the grid order, with overtaking very difficult in Sunday’s race.

Max Verstappen was top of the timesheets in two of the three practice sessions - can anyone challenge him?

Driver Standings ahead of Monaco:

14:47 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen - 119 points

2) Sergio Perez - 105 points

3) Fernando Alonso - 75 points

4) Lewis Hamilton - 56 points

5) Carlos Sainz - 44 points

6) George Russell - 40 points

7) Charles Leclerc - 34 points

8) Lance Stroll - 27 points

9) Lando Norris - 10 points

10) Pierre Gasly - 8 points

11) Nico Hulkenberg - 6 points

12) Esteban Ocon - 6 points

13) Valtteri Bottas - 4 points

14) Oscar Piastri - 4 points

15) Zhou Guanyu - 2 points

16) Yuki Tsunoda - 2 points

17) Kevin Magnussen - 2 points

18) Alex Albon - 1 point

19) Logan Sargeant - 0 points

20) Nyck de Vries - 0 points

WATCH: Lewis Hamilton crashes in FP3

14:39 , Kieran Jackson

Martin Brundle the star of the show

14:29 , Kieran Jackson

This was a heartwarming moment on Sky’s coverage just after FP3!

Lewis Hamilton crashes in new Mercedes at Monaco Grand Prix practice

14:22 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton crashed into the barriers to bring third practice to an abrupt end at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver, in the cockpit of a revamped W14 this weekend, had just set the fastest first sector of the session before a mistake.

Hamilton could not avoid the wall at turn 6, with his car completely wedged in the wall. The session, with less than five minutes to go, did not resume.

Lewis Hamilton crashes in new Mercedes at Monaco Grand Prix practice

Constructors’ Championship ahead of Monaco

14:08 , Kieran Jackson

1) Red Bull - 224 points

2) Aston Martin - 102 points

3) Mercedes - 96 points

4) Ferrari - 78 points

5) McLaren - 14 points

6) Alpine - 14 points

7) Haas - 8 points

8) Alfa Romeo - 6 points

9) AlphaTauri - 2 points

10) Williams - 1 point

Lewis Hamilton has shut the door on Ferrari – will he come to regret it?

13:58 , Kieran Jackson

Comment by Kieran Jackson

The denials came from all angles on media day in Monaco. Speculation that Lewis Hamilton could move to Ferrari next year, in a £40m deal no less, has ramped up this week but was quickly quashed on Thursday by both Hamilton and Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur.

In fact, Hamilton went further, revealing his representatives are “almost there” in agreeing a new deal with Mercedes. The 38-year-old’s current contract with the Silver Arrows – where he has won six of his seven world titles since joining in an inspired decision a decade ago – expires at the end of this season. Despite the wait, the noise from both the Brit and team boss Toto Wolff has been that an extension is a simple inevitability. Not a case of if, but when.

Read full piece below:

Lewis Hamilton has shut the door on Ferrari – will he regret it?

Ferrari boss gives Lewis Hamilton update after reports of shock move

13:49 , Kieran Jackson

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has denied reports that his team have put in an offer to bring Lewis Hamilton to the team next season.

A report this week stated Hamilton has received a £40m-a-year deal to join the Scuderia from 2024, with his Mercedes contract expiring at the end of the season.

Yet Vasseur, speaking to the media ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, firmly rebuked the report.

Full quotes below:

Ferrari boss gives Lewis Hamilton update after reports of shock move

Monaco Grand Prix offers best chance yet of end to Red Bull supremacy

13:29 , Kieran Jackson

Weekend preview by Kieran Jackson

The crown jewel. That’s the accompanying slogan alongside the Monaco Grand Prix: a Formula 1 staple-event identified with the sort-of glitz and glamour we saw last time out in Miami. And will see again in Las Vegas in November. F1’s obsession with the US has given the principality a direct rival or two stateside, to the extent that its long-term viability in the sport if far from a certainty, given the difficulty of overtaking at the track.

But that’s for another day. For now, the famed twists and turns on the shores of the French Riviera still offer the most unique of challenges for the 20 drivers as they return to action for the first time in three weeks. And that distinctiveness should, in theory, give Red Bull their toughest task yet in 2023.

Christian Horner’s team have won all five races so far this season; six if you include the sprint in Azerbaijan. At a canter, too. Yet for a car which reigns supreme on long-straights and in high-speed corners comes a track with few long-straights and a series of low-speed corners.

Monaco GP unpredictability offers best chance yet of end to Red Bull supremacy

Lewis Hamilton’s car lifted from the scene of the crash!

13:13 , Kieran Jackson

This was borderline scary!

Lewis Hamilton crashes in new Mercedes at Monaco Grand Prix practice

12:58 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton crashed into the barriers to bring third practice to an abrupt end at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver, in the cockpit of a revamped W14 this weekend, had just set the fastest first sector of the session before a mistake.

Hamilton could not avoid the wall at turn 6, with his car completely wedged in the wall. The session, with less than five minutes to go, did not resume.

Lewis Hamilton crashes in new Mercedes at Monaco Grand Prix practice

FP3 results in full!

12:44 , Kieran Jackson

Session will not be resumed!

12:30 , Kieran Jackson

With just three minutes left, FP3 will not resume!

Hamilton, incidentally, was quickest in the first sector out of anyone before that hit!

Lewis Hamilton crashes - red flag!

12:26 , Kieran Jackson

Oh no! Just a minute after the VSC, Lewis Hamilton hits the wall at turn 6!

“Sorry about that mate,” says Hamilton, after being told by Bono that there’s damage!

Seemed a genuine mistake! His Mercedes is completely wedged in the barrier!

Magnussen stopping on track ruins Fernando Alonso’s hot lap!

12:25 , Kieran Jackson

Alonso - currently down in P14 - just set the fastest first sector in his Aston Martin before double waved yellow flags forced him to hold back!

Magnussen’s car quickly rolled off the track by the marshals - we’ll have six minutes of green flag running here!

Red Bull up top with 10 to go

12:22 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen fastest - 1:12:776 - with Sergio Perez 0.073 seconds down on his Red Bull team-mate.

Lance Stroll third - +0.166 secs - with Carlos Sainz in fourth and Lando Norris fifth.

Kevin Magnussen told to stop the car before the tunnel - after going off earlier at turn 1! VSC deployed.

6-10: Gasly, Leclerc, Hamilton, Ocon, Bottas

Max Verstappen quickest so far in FP3

12:04 , Kieran Jackson

Track constantly evolving here with the drivers at the top of the leaderboard constantly changing too!

Max Verstappen quickest for the time being with a 1:12:898, with Sergio Perez three-tenths back in second place. Carlos Sainz in third, 0.481 secs off Verstappen.

4-10: Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, Ocon, Russell, Stroll, Bottas

Tell you what, Charles Leclerc despite being P4 is not happy in his Ferrari! Complaining massively about bottoming heading into the swimming pool section...

Esteban Ocon stops in the tunnel

11:45 , Kieran Jackson

The Alpine driver looks to have a mechanical fault as he grinds to a halt in the tunnel!

Ocon manages to bring the car home, but looks like some issues with the rear of the car!

Meanwhile, only about five drivers out on track in the first 15 minutes - Sergio Perez the fastest of the lot!

On board with Charles Leclerc!

11:39 , Kieran Jackson

What a view this is!

FP3 is underway in Monaco!

11:33 , Kieran Jackson

The final hour of practice for the 20 drivers in Monaco - fine-tuning setups and systems ahead of qualifying this afternoon.

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll the first car out on track...

FP3 coming right up!

11:27 , Kieran Jackson

We’re now just a few minutes away from free practice 3 in Monaco - the final chance for the drivers to test and experiment before qualifying this afternoon!

Who will set the final marker?

n has shut the door on Ferrari – will he come to regret it?

11:23 , Kieran Jackson

Comment by Kieran Jackson

The denials came from all angles on media day in Monaco. Speculation that Lewis Hamilton could move to Ferrari next year, in a £40m deal no less, has ramped up this week but was quickly quashed on Thursday by both Hamilton and Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur.

In fact, Hamilton went further, revealing his representatives are “almost there” in agreeing a new deal with Mercedes. The 38-year-old’s current contract with the Silver Arrows – where he has won six of his seven world titles since joining in an inspired decision a decade ago – expires at the end of this season. Despite the wait, the noise from both the Brit and team boss Toto Wolff has been that an extension is a simple inevitability. Not a case of if, but when.

Read full piece below:

Lewis Hamilton has shut the door on Ferrari – will he regret it?

Driver Standings ahead of Monaco:

11:18 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen - 119 points

2) Sergio Perez - 105 points

3) Fernando Alonso - 75 points

4) Lewis Hamilton - 56 points

5) Carlos Sainz - 44 points

6) George Russell - 40 points

7) Charles Leclerc - 34 points

8) Lance Stroll - 27 points

9) Lando Norris - 10 points

10) Pierre Gasly - 8 points

11) Nico Hulkenberg - 6 points

12) Esteban Ocon - 6 points

13) Valtteri Bottas - 4 points

14) Oscar Piastri - 4 points

15) Zhou Guanyu - 2 points

16) Yuki Tsunoda - 2 points

17) Kevin Magnussen - 2 points

18) Alex Albon - 1 point

19) Logan Sargeant - 0 points

20) Nyck de Vries - 0 points

Ferrari boss gives Lewis Hamilton update after reports of shock move

11:12 , Kieran Jackson

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has denied reports that his team have put in an offer to bring Lewis Hamilton to the team next season.

A report this week stated Hamilton has received a £40m-a-year deal to join the Scuderia from 2024, with his Mercedes contract expiring at the end of the season.

Yet Vasseur, speaking to the media ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, firmly rebuked the report.

Full quotes below:

Ferrari boss gives Lewis Hamilton update after reports of shock move

Monaco Grand Prix offers best chance yet of end to Red Bull supremacy

11:06 , Kieran Jackson

Weekend preview by Kieran Jackson

The crown jewel. That’s the accompanying slogan alongside the Monaco Grand Prix: a Formula 1 staple-event identified with the sort-of glitz and glamour we saw last time out in Miami. And will see again in Las Vegas in November. F1’s obsession with the US has given the principality a direct rival or two stateside, to the extent that its long-term viability in the sport if far from a certainty, given the difficulty of overtaking at the track.

But that’s for another day. For now, the famed twists and turns on the shores of the French Riviera still offer the most unique of challenges for the 20 drivers as they return to action for the first time in three weeks. And that distinctiveness should, in theory, give Red Bull their toughest task yet in 2023.

Christian Horner’s team have won all five races so far this season; six if you include the sprint in Azerbaijan. At a canter, too. Yet for a car which reigns supreme on long-straights and in high-speed corners comes a track with few long-straights and a series of low-speed corners.

Monaco GP unpredictability offers best chance yet of end to Red Bull supremacy

Lewis Hamilton reveals impact of Mercedes updates in Monaco

10:59 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton had hoped his revamped Mercedes would have propelled him closer to the front after he finished sixth in practice for Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team arrived for the sixth round of the season in the sun-cooked principality armed with a major upgrade.

But after an encouraging start – with Hamilton briefly heading the order in the opening running of the weekend – the British driver ended the day half-a-second behind Max Verstappen, who finished fastest for Red Bull. George Russell was only 12th in the other Mercedes.

Full quotes below:

Lewis Hamilton reveals impact of Mercedes updates in Monaco

Max Verstappen was quickest in FP2; here are the results in full!

10:50 , Kieran Jackson

F1 qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix!

10:41 , Kieran Jackson

Good morning and welcome to live coverage of qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix with The Independent!

It’s a beautiful day in the principality and a crucial day - perhaps the most important qualifying of the season. Given the tight nature of the circuit, with overtaking near-impossible, where each driver starts Sunday’s race will be vital.

Can anyone overhaul Red Bull? Will Charles Leclerc clinch his third pole in a row at his home race? And can Mercedes pull off a surprise in their revamped car?

Free practice 3 starts at 11:30am, with qualifying at 3pm (BST)! Stay right here for all the build-up and live updates!