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Formula 1 Monaco GP

F1 Monaco GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race day

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12

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The Pirelli pitstop graphic suggested we're edging towards the pit window for those starting on softs, but the laptimes are still getting quicker.

If you are all wondering how drivers are exceeding track limits at Monaco, I should point you to Turn 10, better known as the Nouvelle chicane. That's where Mazepin is being pinged.

Stopwatch
The fastest lap is back with Verstappen now, doing a 1m15.818s to slowly extend his advantage over Bottas. Sainz is keeping tabs on the front pair.

Mazepin has been shown the black and white flag for exceeding track limits. We are only 14 laps into this race so the Russian is going to have to be very careful.

 
Stopwatch

Perez joins the battle for the fastest lap point with a 1m15.949s. It is the prize they all really want...

The fastest lap point is back with Verstappen at this stage - a 1m16.265s. But those times will tumble.

Dad joke extraordinaire Vettel has pulled out a couple of seconds ahead of Perez, while the rest of the pack is also starting to stretch out a little.

Just a thought, who's Netflix filming this weekend?
Stopwatch
There's Norris in P4 with a fastest lap now, logging a 1m16.655s - but he's still just under 3s away from ex-team-mate Sainz.

Who is the best driver to keep an eye out for from the midfield runners? It is Lance Stroll. He is currently P11 and the highest runner not on the softs, with the Aston Martin driver on the hards for an alternative strategy.

Stopwatch
Verstappen and Bottas are, at the moment, trading fastest times at the front - with the gap now opened up to 1.5s after Verstappen logs a 1m16.722s.

Having had an elbows out start to the race, Perez in P8 is now tucked up under the rear wing of Vettel. But, as we know at Monaco, it is extremely tricky to find a way through.

Bottas got a little closer to Verstappen on the previous lap, but the Dutchman brings the laptimes into the 1m16s.
Stopwatch
Verstappen kicks off the fastest lap fight with a 1m17.298s, as he seeks to build a break over Bottas.

Super start by Alonso who gains three places on the opening lap to move up to P14 - one of those was of course for the DNS for Leclerc.

The top six begins as you were, then - Verstappen ahead of Bottas, with Sainz, Norris, Gasly and Hamilton behind them.

Further back, Ocon and Perez go side-by-side at the first corner and it looks like the pair make minor contact but continue without any issues. But then Ocon gets mugged at the hairpin to lose places to Giovinazzi and Vettel.

Verstappen holds off Bottas to hold the lead into Turn 1! That's absolutely crucial around here.
Lights out
The Monaco Grand Prix begins!
We've got a stopper in the Rascasse! An Alfa was stranded - but it's got going again.
Green flag
The formation lap begins.
Sorry, that's Ricciardo on mediums, not Ocon. Ocon's on the soft tyre.
We've got Ocon, Raikkonen, Russell, Alonso and Latifi on mediums, Tsunoda and Stroll on hards - everyone else on softs.
For those just joining us - Charles Leclerc, who was supposed to be on pole today, will not start the race. How a right-side impact affects a left-side driveshaft is still something we're mulling over...
Sun
We've got a risk of rain of 0%, an air temp of 20.7 degrees C, track temp 41.5 degrees C. It's not particularly scorchio.
Ferrari now has just one horse in this race - can Carlos Sainz Jr salvage something good here?
Verstappen, starting on the outside, will have to chop Bottas off at the start. But if Bottas is in "give no quarter" mode, he won't want to concede it too easily.
Leclerc gets a hug from Prince Albert, before taking the walk of shame back to...wherever he's off to next. I'd be in the corner, knee-deep in a few bottles of wine if I was in his position...
Spare a thought for Charles - he has to go through all of the pre-race shenanigans, listen to his home anthem, and then sit it out. At least he can go home quickly.
As a result, Verstappen and Bottas is your "front row" - Verstappen starts from the P2 box, however, with Bottas third. Then, Sainz, Norris, Gasly and Hamilton.
Breaking news
Confirmation of Leclerc's inability to start due to lingering effects from his crash: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/leclerc-fails-to-start-monaco-gp-with-gearbox-issue
Quote
A statement from Ferrari: 
"Charles will not start the race due to an issue with the left driveshaft which is impossible to fix in time for the start of the race"
Mechanical problem
Laurent Mekies tells Michael Masi that Leclerc will not race. A great shame for the Monegasque at his home race.
Leclerc's out of the car, so that, uh, doesn't look great.
Leclerc's pole spot will be left empty, as a result - so the inside line is some much-coveted real estate.
The pitlane has now closed and Leclerc will not make the grid. Ferrari has like, 25 minutes to get him race-ready.
The pitlane is going to close shortly - and Leclerc is currently in the garage. Leclerc's Monaco hoodoo hath continueth.
Ferrari checked the gearbox once last night and again this morning and reported it a-okay, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I guess.
Mechanical problem
Charles Leclerc got pole yesterday, despite a crash. But that crash, despite repairs, has apparently lingered and Leclerc has reported gearbox issues on his recon lap.

By: Jake Boxall-Legge, Haydn Cobb, Stephen Lickorish

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