Maldonado sets early Monaco pace

Twelve months after he received a nine-race ban for injuring a marshal on the streets of the Principality in the corresponding session, Maldonado was making the headlines for all the right reasons this time.

James Rossiter was second fastest, a tenth behind Maldonado's 1:26.895 best. Colin Fleming was third fastest, the American heading last year's Monaco winner Christian Montanari and Tomas Kostka.

The session was first red flagged for 10 minutes midway through when Mikhail Aleshin spun his Carlin car into the barriers at Massenet. Alx Danielsson also spun, but he kept his Comtec machine out of the Rascasse Armco.

Then, with 5 minutes remaining, Alvaro Barba shunted his car into the Ste Devote tyres with enough force to cause a brief fire.

Simultaneously, Rossiter tried an all-advised pass on Jaap van Lagen (who had already spun previously) at the final corner that caused them both to plough into the tyre wall.

All three cars suffered serious damage, but the drivers (and marshals) were all okay this time.

Full results will be added shortly...