Monaco Grand Prix 2011: live
Minggu, 29 Mei 2011 by Android Blackberry
Monaco Grand Prix 2011: live
Follow live lap-by-lap commentary of the Monaco Grand Prix with Sebastian Vettel starting ahead of Jenson Button at the Circuit de Monaco
Follow live lap-by-lap commentary of the Monaco Grand Prix with Sebastian Vettel starting ahead of Jenson Button at the Circuit de Monaco
Lap 45 Paul Di Resta's at it once again, trying to get past d'Ambrosio and liberally scatted bits of Force India over the track.
Lap 43 Drive-through penalty for Lewis Hamilton for that lumpen attempt to get past Massa at the hairpin. Frustration on frustration for him.
Lap 42 Certain sufficient, Button is correct behind Vettel. Red Bull inform the German that he will be under pressure for 10 laps or so, but that after that Button's selections will run out. Both drivers will quit when extra, remember, with the situation to be reversed: Vettel will have the quicker tyres.
Lap 41 Issues searching up a bit now for McLaren - Button has cleared the traffic. He's one and a half seconds per lap quicker than Vettel on his newer, softer tyres.
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Monaco GP action
Lap 40 Vettel now has a four second lead over Button. Why did he stop for the second time? That decision has likely price him the race. An excellent battle, meanwhile, is raging for fifth place, with just a second or so separating Kobayashi, Webber, and Hamilton in seventh.
Lap 37 That safety automobile - the first of the season - is poor news for Button, who's down in visitors and wasn't able to get the most effective out of his tyres, which will need to make him quicker than Vettel for now. Schumacher's race has ended, he just slowed to a halt at Rascasse. A brief but exciting cameo from him.
Lap 35 Hamilton comes out of the tunnel ahead of Massa - how did that occur? They went into the tunnel side by side after Hamilton employed his Kers to obtain the jump on the Ferrari coming out of Portier. "I went up the inside and he turned into me," says Hamilton of his attempted pass round the hairpin. "It was on purpose." That's far more for the benefit of the officials, I believe. Then Massa hits the barriers within the tunnel immediately after running into the marbles. The safety car's out.
Lap 34 McLaren's gone for a crude pass up the inside of the Loews hairpin. He's got the speed, but not the space - he just bumps into the Ferrari, and Mark Webber for very good measure. Something red flashes away from Massa's vehicle.
Lap 33 Button pits from very first - it's a superb quit, 4.three seconds. He drops into a glorious stretch of track in third, with nobody in sight. It's falling into place for him. But still, it's a strange move, given that it means he is going to be stopping three times whilst Vettel can still go with a two-stop strategy.
Lap 32 Button's lead has stopped growing; it's now hovering around 13 and a bit seconds. Still, none too shabby.
Lap 30 Schumacher up the inside at the hairpin to overtake Rosberg. Ballsy move. Hamilton is still all over the Ferrari, but he hasn't got the edge within the few-and-far-between overtaking zones.
Lap 29 Terrific battle between Hamilton and Massa. Hamilton's a tenth or so behind, a constant menacing presence behind the Ferrari. Hamilton is desperate to get by - what a dismal weekend this has become for him. Petrov pits from fourth place.
Lap 28 Drive-through for Paul Di Resta, who was all over the pavement as he produced that ill-advised attempts at a pass.
Lap 26 The lead's at 13 seconds now. And Di Resta has lost his front wing soon after attempting to go up the inside of Alguersuari at the hairpin.
Lap 24 Button is now 11 seconds ahead of Vettel - he's a second a lap quicker on the choices.
Lap 23 Hamilton pits from seventh - plus the mechanics are not ready! They look totally surprised to see him, and he's 10 seconds in the pits. Red Bull and McLaren - two elite teams, hours of practice, typically models of military precision - have both blundered horribly.
Lap 21 The top 10: Button, Vettel, Alonso, Massa, Maldonaldo, Petrov, Hamilton, Barrichello, Di Resta, Kobayashi.
Lap 19 Button's cruising on the market - he's eight along with a bit seconds in front now. Webber also had a rotten pit-stop, and he's down in 14th.
Lap 18 Button has a six second lead over Vettel - who's 3 seconds ahead of Alonso. Alsonso is lapping much slower than the other people, though. New tyres not working out however.
Lap 17 In goes Alonso from first. He emerges just behind Vettel - and Button leads! Will that half-minute pitstop ruin Red Bull's day?
Lap 16 Button pits, rejoining in a tempting stretch of empty track. Schumacher's pit-stop was a lengthy 1 and he came out in 21st. Red Bull respond to McLaren's move and bring Vettel in - but they've messed up! They weren't ready with the harder tyres, and Vettel's losing seconds and seconds as they fetch out a brand new set of tyres. What was that about?! Possibly they had the tyres for Webber ready instead...
Lap 15 That's superb from Massa, attempting once again to obtain by the Mercedes of Rosberg, which was losing pace. He passes him going into the chicane and Maldonaldo also manages to obtain by Rosberg in his slipstream.
Lap 14 Massa tries to surge past Rosberg going up to Casino Square - he was in no way going to create it, and in the end he gets too close, makes contact, and loses a little piece of his front wing.
Lap 13 Schumacher pits from 10th.
Lap 12 Button took four tenths out of Vettel's lead in that lap; Alonso closed the gap by two tenths.
Lap 10 Schumacher tells his team his tyres are grained; and positive sufficient, Lewis Hamilton soon uses the DRS to get past up the inside at turn 1. Schumacher didn't think he'd go for the past and left just a little space, and Hamilton didn't need to have a second chance.
Lap 9 Vettel's now lapping 3 seconds quicker than Schumacher and Hamilton, who are having a terrific battle for 9th. Button, although, is just beginning to peg Vettel back, and has opened up a second or so over Alonso.
Lap 8 Hamilton has just a little peek around Michael Schumacher going into Sainte Devote, jumping out of the slipstream, but the German holds his line.
Lap 7 Vettel's now 4.4 seconds ahead of Button, who's got his function cut out just staying in front of Fernando Alonso. Hamilton's missing a little chunk of rear wing immediately after that early bump into turn 1.
Lap five Hamilton's quite close to Michael Schumacher. It'll be tough to get by Schumacher, who's so experienced round this track.
Lap 3 It looks like Hamilton hasn't got a flat right after all. But he is 14 seconds behind the lead, having began on the harder tyres.
Lap two Schumacher bumped Hamilton's rear wing going into turn 1, Sainte Devote, along with the McLaren's taken some damage. "I may have a flat tyre," he says. Vettel is 3 seconds away already. Way out of reach for the DRS.
Lap 1 What a large lead for Vettel immediately - a great start and he's storming away from Button. The order's Button, Alonso - who snuck by Webber - Webber, Rosberg. Michael Schumacher dropped several places off the start but then produced a moment of brilliance to overtake Hamilton at the hairpin. A fantastic commence for Rosberg.
1302 "The steering's genuinely heavy" says Button to McLaren, who tell him they'll look into it, sounding fairly perturbed.
1300 So each and every driver has to use both tyre compounds, soft and Pirell's new super-softs. Which is, unless it rains. Which doesn't look likely at all with azure skies over the Med.
1259 There's the low rumble of engines as the pit-crews leave the grid. They're off for the formation lap.
Quote FIA President Jean Todt: "Monaco is wonderful, it is portion of the history of motorsport, both rallying and F1. There is a lot of discussion going on [about F1's future] but it is a strong sport, a strong business enterprise and I'm pretty significantly looking forward to a good deal of harmony within the future." Thanks Jean. Who doesn't like harmony?
1251 In other breaking pitlane news, Geri Halliwell "loves the smell of petrol." She also says that Sebastian Vettel "sounds like a very nice water, doesn't it." She's just saying whatever comes into her head, sounding rather like someone emerging from heavy sedation, until Brundle mercifully sends her on her way.
1250 Couldn't let this picture go unpublished. It is Bernie Ecclestone being dwarfed by his daughters Petra (left) and Tamara
1245 Oh dear, a grid walk fail for Martin Brundle. "So, Adrien Brody," he yells above the engine noise at a hip-looking bloke who is patently not Adrien Brody. "Oh! So I do not know why you've been put in front of me!" Turns out it's Stuart Cost, a bemused record producer who's too cool to have any real opinions on Formula One.
Quote 1240 "I need to get a superb commence," says Jenson Button, who surely has a decent chance here if he can get the jump on the German early on. "That side of the grid is usually tricky as it is off camber, but our starts have been fantastic all season, apart from in Spain. We can still race and actually fight for a victory although we're not on pole. Monaco is very tricky for overtaking but there's only one person who is superior positioned than I am. And if I win I'm running down the pit lane. I'll get told off but it's a special place to win so you want to enjoy it with everyone."
1225 Bomb scare in Monte Carlo - a false alarm.
Press Association: A bomb disposal professional has safely dealt with a suspect package within the Formula 1 paddock ahead of today's Monaco Grand Prix.
An alert was raised as a black rucksack had been wedged between a concrete pillar along with a white metal fence that separates the paddock from a walkway that runs alongside it.
With film crews, photographers, media, paddock guests and other F1 personnel searching on from a distance of around 20 metres, the expert in full bomb disposal gear moved in.
With the rucksack 10 metres away from the FIA motorhome, initially he cut a handful of plastic ties holding the metal fence in place to permit him access to the bag.
Immediately after it was snared and placed on the floor, the expert utilised a device to check if there was anything inside, rapidly giving a thumbs-up sign to indicate all was okay.
Afternoon. Red Bull on pole once more, Vettel's fifth in six races this year. "He'll run away with it, I'm certain," stated Lewis Hamilton, who's stuck down in ninth on the grid right after what he known as one of his worst qualifying sessions. On the bright side for McLaren, Jenson Button's perfectly-timed final lap in Q3 gives him a great shot at repeating his victory here from two years ago.
But yesterday's qualifying was overshadowed by Sergio Perez's horrendous crash at the chicane. Button, himself one of a legion of drivers to have crashed in the same spot, described the experience vividly: “You’re a sled and the automobile usually aims straight for the barrier. You come off the wall and it pushes you in that direction.” It was nasty, but Sauber's rookie is recovering nicely.
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CIRCUIT DE MONACO
RACE POINTERS
• Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel has started from the front row at just about every race since last year's Singapore GP, a run of 10 overall, including seven times from pole.
• Sunday's win in Spain was the 14th of Vettel's career, moving him up to equal 14th on the all-time list alongside Graham Hill, Jack Brabham and Emerson Fittipaldi.
• Vettel is now on a run of seven consecutive podium finishes, the very best considering that Jenson Button at the commence of the 2009 season.
• The 23-year-old has won 10 of his races from pole, joining Mika Hakkinen in eighth location on the all-time list.
• The late Ayrton Senna holds the record for most number of wins in Monaco with six, followed by Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher with five.
• McLaren are streets ahead in terms of constructors' success as they've 15 victories between 1984 and 2008. Ferrari have nine, albeit their last was now 10 years ago in 2001.
• As you would anticipate given the nature of the track, pole has resulted in victory in six of the last seven races. Nevertheless, within the five seasons prior to that pole didn't even result in a podium.
• The highest winning grid position was 14th set by Olivier Panis in 1996 in a Ligier.
• Last year there had been just 20 pit stops, this year there could possibly be four times that quantity.
• This year's grid boasts six former winners: Red Bull's Mark Webber (2010); McLaren's Jenson Button (2009) and Lewis Hamilton (2008); Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (2006-07); Lotus' Jarno Trulli (2004) and Mercedes' Michael Schumacher (1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001).
• It takes approximately six weeks to prepare the public streets for the grand prix, and 3 weeks to return them to their normal configuration.
• The circuit has 33km of safety rails, 5000 tyres inside the tyre barriers, 554m of Tecpro barriers and 20,000 square metres of protective wire netting.
• Circuit safety functions include: 650 race marshals in 22 marshal sectors, seven fire vehicles and three extraction vehicles, along with 120 professional fire fighters and 500 fire extinguishers - equivalent to 1 each 15m.
Monaco Grand Prix Live: Follow all the drama from Monte Carlo as the F1 circus rolls into the principality
Sebastian Vettel was back to his brilliant ideal on Saturday, and will start today's Monaco Grand Prix from pole for the fifth time in six starts this season.
Yesterday's session having said that, was overshadowed by the harrowing shunt suffered by rookie Sergio Perez. The 21-year-old Mexican was rushed to hospital right after the 175 mph crash knocked him unconscious. Perez was kept in hospital overnight with concussion, plus a sprained thigh. He will not take part in today's race, but has already vowed to be back on the grid in Canada.
Vettel will commence ahead of Jenson Button and Mark Webber, with Lewis Hamilton down in ninth. It is possible to join in on today's action by contacting me on Twitter, or dropping me an emai
Lap 52: Vettel leads Alonso by FOUR seconds, but just 16 ahead of Button. Has the tide swing back in McLaren's favour?
Lap 50: Hamilton pits for his second stop for tyres. It's been a busy, but pretty torrid afternoon for the Briton. Is Alonso a threat to Vettel. he last stopped on lap 34, but has employed both the super-soft, and soft compound. Will he need to pit again? Meanwhile, Button is now EIGHTEEN seconds behind Vettel. Surely, Vettel will exit behind Button. Why are Red Bull not responding?
Lap 48: And McLaren bring their man in, but he loses time on his out-lap after obtaining caught up behind back-marker Buemi. Button is down in P3. Will Red Bull respond by bringing Vettel in?
Lap 47: Button is EIGHT tenths down on Vettel...
Lap 46: 'It looks like Vettel is staying out for a though. If we desire to win this race we are going to have to pass him on track', Button is told. McLaren are regretting the decision to bring Button in. He lost track-position to Vettel, and is losing time regardless of being on the faster tyre.
Lap 45: So, who is going to win today's race? Let me know what you feel by dropping me a line...(see above)
Lap 43: No surprise there then, as Lewis is awarded a drive-through, and comes in straightaway. He exits in P9. vettel and Button are now SEVEN seconds clear of Alonso, and 25 ahead of Sutil, who is running down in P4. Kobayashi is in P5, with Webber in P6.
Lap 42: Bear in mind Jenson is on the super softs, with Vettel on the harder tyre. Button will need to pit again, and run the slower harder tyre. Vettel will run the super softs following his next stop. Vettel has to be in pole-position now.
Lap 41: I think Jenson has heard you, Simon. He's now 0.5secs behind Vettel. The Brit is flying.
Lap 40: Here's Sportsmail's Simon Cass: 'Could we be faced having a scenario that Hamilton's move on Massa, which caused the Ferrari driver to collect the barrier in the tunnel and bring out the safety automobile, cost Jenson Button chance of a win? It was the worst probable time for it to take place to Button who has wasted valuable laps cruising behind the safety car on his super soft tyres. Time to get the hammer down JB.
Lap 39: Vettel is 3.6secs up on Button, with Alonso in P3, Sutil in P4, and Kobayashi in P5. Unsurprisingly Hamilton is under investigation. I'd be really surprised if he does not get penalised.
Lap 38: Safety car is in at the end of this lap.
Lap 37: The safety auto is still out as the marshalls recover Massa's stricken Ferrari.
Lap 36: Vettel leads from, Button and Alonso. Button and Alonso have both stopped twice, with leader Vettel yet to pit for a second time.
Lap 35: Surely, Hamilton will come under investigation for that move on Massa. It was wild. but the Briton declares his innocence. 'He turned into me. it was deliberate,' Lewis says over the team-radio.
Lap 34: SAFETY Automobile OUT! Hamilton is alongside Massa in the tunnel - the Brazilian runs wide on the marbles and collides with the barrier. Schumacher's race is over, as his Mercedes comes to a halt following Rascasse. I don't think he parked it their 'deliberately' thought that time. Whoops, did I say that out loud?
Lap 33: Jenson Button is in for his second pit-stop, and he leaves in clear space in P3. A frustrated Hamilton throws one down the inside of Massa at the hairpin, but he's too far behind. That is a ludicrous move - the pair collide.
Lap 32: Suspension damage for Timo Glock, who's race is over. Extremely he's the first retirement nowadays.
Lap 30: Button leads from Vettel by over 14 seconds. Alonso is P3, with Lewis staring at the gearbox of Massa's Ferrari, way down inside the battle for 10th - a tough day for Hamilton.
Lap 29: For a second time currently, Schumacher passes a different competitor at the hairpin, sliding 1 down the inside of Rosberg. Nico did well not to turn into his countryman.
Lap 28: Could Button be on for his very first McLaren win in dry conditions? He's searching very good. One more incident-packed race. These new regulations, and the introduction of Pirelli tyres are working wonders this season.
Lap 27: Drive-through for PDR for his earlier misdemeanour, with Hamilton all over the back of Massa inside the battle for P11. Button now over 13 seconds ahead of Vettel.
Lap 26: Here's Sportsmail's Simon Cass' verdict on events as they unfold from Monaco: Er, this is meant to be Monaco an no overtaking. The moves by Hamilton, Barrichello, Maldonado and Massa obtain rounds of applause within the press room. Most effective Monaco Grand Prix I can bear in mind for a long time. Pit quit disasters for both Red Bulls and Lewis Hamilton. Jenson Button is the significant benefactor and also the man who can look after his tyres superior than anyone else is on a distinct technique to Vettel. JB has promised one more pit straight sprint if he wins.
Lap 25: Di Resta loses his front wing after diving up the inside of Alguersuari at the hairpin. He'll have to come in for repairs, as Maldonado pits from P5.
Lap 24: Button is 1 second-a-lap quicker than Vettel. Incredible.
Button will be the fastest man on the track
Lap 22: Disaster for Hamilton - his weekend goes from bad-to-worse. He comes in for a pit-stop, but, not for the very first time currently, the mechanics are not ready for their driver. His quit is over NINE seconds and he leaves the pits way down the order in p14, and tucked up behind Webber. Button meanwhile is now over TEN seconds ahead of Vettel. He is flying on the super softs.
Lap 20: Rosberg is way down in P18, and Schumacher P19, though Button is now EIGHT seconds ahead of Vettel. Only Button, Vettel, Webber, and Alonso have pitted of the top 10. Hamilton is tucked up behind Petrov in P7.
Lap 19: Here's a run down on the top 10: Button leads from Vettel, Alonso, Massa, Maldonado, Petrov, Hamilton, Barrichello Di Resta, Kobayashi.
Lap 18: Button is SIX seconds ahead of Vettel, while Alonso struggles on his out-lap. He was FIVE seconds slower than the Briton there. Worried faces at Ferrari.
Lap 16: Chaos at Red Bull. Vettel comes in to response to Button, but the mechanics aren't ready for him. They've got Webber's tyres out, and not Vettel's! A slow quit for the German ensues, and an even slower 1 for Webber. Jenson Button now LEADS the grand prix, and is flying. Incredible! Webber is way down the field in P14.
Lap 15: Button is in for a set of super softs, and re-joins the track in P4. Alonso up to P2, and Webber P3. Ferrari standing by having a new front wing for Massa if required. He lost his end-plate after touching Rosberg. Nico is in for his very first pit-stop.
Lap 14: Felipe Massa loses a piece of his front wing in the run down to Casino Square acquiring to close to Rosberg, but then nails the Mercedes in the swimming pool complicated, with Maldonado following the Ferrari man by way of. The Mercedes drivers a re genuinely struggling with tyre wear here.
Lap 12: Schumacher's going backwards. So much for that podium. Barrichello passes his former team-mate into Mirabeau, and then duly pits for a new set of boots. But his team aren't ready for him, and it is a slow quit. What an oh-so disappointing race for Schuey so far.
Lap 11: This is refreshing. We're 11 laps in, and we haven't had any pit-stops. Schumacher now thirty seconds down on Vettel. Button four seconds down on Vettel
Lap 10: Brilliant move from Hamilton. The Briton activates the DRS on the pit-straight and slides one up the inside of Schumacher to take P9. Excellent driving from Schumacher, who just about turned into the McLaren, but backed out of it. Hamilton gestures to the German, as if to ask 'what are you doing'? Superb driving from both world champions.
Lap 8: This is like watching Nigel Mansell harass Ayrton Senna all those years ago. Hamilton is CLEARLY quicker than the 42-year-old, but he just cannot locate a way around the German. He's a country-mile behind Vettel now. Schumacher says his rear tyres are grained. He's 3 seconds slower than Vettel, whilst Button is now matching the Red Bull. He's 1.6secs up on Alonso.
Lap 6: Hamilton lost part of his rear-wing in that collision with Schumacher at Turn 1 on the very first lap. The German's Mercedes kicked into anti-stall off the line... a truly miserable commence from Michael.
Lap five: Vettel leads from Button by 4.2secs, who is a second or so up on Alonso. Hamilton tucked up behind the man, who has led far more laps than anybody else around Monaco... That is Schumacher in case you didn't know.
Lap four: Tv replays show that Schumacher lost portion of his rear wing on the run down to Saint Devote right after baulking at the start off. Surprising, as the seven-time champion is commonly supreme off the start-line. Will McLaren bring Lewis in early to obtain the jump on Schumacher. Don't forget, Hamilton was one of the favourites to stick it on pole yesterday. He's been incredibly fast this weekend.
Lap three: No puncture for Lewis, according to McLaren, but the Brit is already ELEVEN seconds down on race-leader Vettel.
Lap two: Vettel is 3.2secs ahead of Button already - extraordinary. The German is romping away at the front of this race. How numerous times have we stated that already this season? Still no news on a suspected puncture for Lewis. He's keeping tabs on Schuey, but it is notoriously impossible to pass around here.
Lap 1: Vettel leads from Button, with Alonso in third right after finding the jump on Webber, who's in P4. A brilliant begin from Rosberg in P5, but team-mate Schumacher is down to P9. The five-time Monaco winner was in p10, but passed Hamilton at the chicane. Lewis is on the radio to say he was hit by Schumacher, and could have a right rear puncture.
1.01pm: Jenson Button reporting 'really heavy steering' on the parade lap. I'll keep you posted.
12.58pm: A great effort from Schuey, a five-time winner in Monaco, to stick it in fifth. Will today's race mark a return to the podium for the first time considering that his ill-fated comeback? Aamir_yousuf thinks so on Twitter. 'Today is a great opportunity for Schumacher to create it to the podium,' he says.
12.55pm: It is a gorgeous day in Monaco. Here's a reminder of the leading 10: Vettel will start off ahead of Button, Webber, Alonso, Schumacher (with his finest quali of the season), Massa, Rosberg, Maldonado, Hamilton, Petrov
12.48pm: And here's Geri Halliwell giving her earth-shattering verdict on today's grand prix: 'I want Webber and Vettel (to win) - I like them. (Vettel) Sounds like a really nice water does not it. It is so remarkable to be down here. I love the smell of petrol.' - Er, thanks for that, Geri
12.43pm: 'Hi Phil my name's Kevin. I've been there in 01 and 02 awesome location the noise bounces of the walls let's hope no much more crashes out of tunnel. I've just performed London marathon and moonwalk in memory of my late friend Caron Keating. Have an excellent race, Kevin Cooke - thanks for your mail, Kevin - let's hope today's race is really a corker.
12.39pm: 'I started alongside Sebastian as soon as this year, and I got past him at Turn 1' - that is a confident JB for you from the grid. 'The track is in pretty great shape. It's a long grand prix, so we've got to remain concentrated for the full two hours, says Mark Webber in P3, and here's pole-sitter Vettel, who appears a bit tense right now: 'They will push challenging, so it's not a walk inside the park for us.'
12.30pm: Hamilton was fuming yesterday right after becoming caught out by Perez's shunt which led to a red flag. To create matters worse he was then penalised for cutting the chicane - he'll commence from P9. A enormous disappointment for the Stevenage-born man, who was fastest in Q1 and Q2. Can Lewis make his mark in today's race? Will Button give Vettel a run for his dollars? Let's hear your predictions. You can do so by dropping me an e-mail, or Tweet (see above)
12.24pm: Back to today's race, and Sportsmail's chief motor racing correspondent Simon Cass reports a 'bomb scare' inside the Monaco paddock: 'Scorching day down by the harbour and if the Monaco Grand Prix didn't offer drama sufficient we have had a bomb scare inside the paddock proper next to the FIA motor home.
'Thankfully nothing far more than a forgetful punter leaving his rucksack in the Stars and Bars watering hole opposite. Conspiracy theorists can stand down.
'I've been for a well-known men and women hunt within the paddock along with the most effective I've got for you up to now is former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker.
'On yet another note, Renault team manager Flavio Briatore has been here all weekend and I spotted him nipping into the FIA motor home for a quick chat... to be a fly on the wall!
12.20pm: We've just been told that Sergio Perez will remain in hospital for a different night immediately after his horror shunt in yesterday's qualifying session. A spokesperson from Sauber said the young Mexican had a 'very very good nights sleep' and is 'very well' - far better news then. That was a horrible crash yesterday, and could have been considerably worse had it been head-on. Sportsmail sends out its best wishes to Perez.
12.15pm: Nothing very beats Formula One's race around the principality of Monte Carlo does it? From the glitz and glamour to the finesse of racing around the narrow streets of the southern French port, Monaco really does have it all. And pole-king Sebastian Vettel will have the very best seat within the home for round 6 of the 2011 championship right after topping the timesheets on Saturday. The 23-year-old German will begin ahead of Jenson Button, Mark Webber, and Fernando Alonso, with Lewis Hamilton in ninth.
12.10pm: Fantastic afternoon everyone, and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix
Lap 43 Drive-through penalty for Lewis Hamilton for that lumpen attempt to get past Massa at the hairpin. Frustration on frustration for him.
Lap 42 Certain sufficient, Button is correct behind Vettel. Red Bull inform the German that he will be under pressure for 10 laps or so, but that after that Button's selections will run out. Both drivers will quit when extra, remember, with the situation to be reversed: Vettel will have the quicker tyres.
Lap 41 Issues searching up a bit now for McLaren - Button has cleared the traffic. He's one and a half seconds per lap quicker than Vettel on his newer, softer tyres.
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| Button is the fastest man on the track |
Lap 40 Vettel now has a four second lead over Button. Why did he stop for the second time? That decision has likely price him the race. An excellent battle, meanwhile, is raging for fifth place, with just a second or so separating Kobayashi, Webber, and Hamilton in seventh.
Lap 37 That safety automobile - the first of the season - is poor news for Button, who's down in visitors and wasn't able to get the most effective out of his tyres, which will need to make him quicker than Vettel for now. Schumacher's race has ended, he just slowed to a halt at Rascasse. A brief but exciting cameo from him.
Lap 35 Hamilton comes out of the tunnel ahead of Massa - how did that occur? They went into the tunnel side by side after Hamilton employed his Kers to obtain the jump on the Ferrari coming out of Portier. "I went up the inside and he turned into me," says Hamilton of his attempted pass round the hairpin. "It was on purpose." That's far more for the benefit of the officials, I believe. Then Massa hits the barriers within the tunnel immediately after running into the marbles. The safety car's out.
Lap 34 McLaren's gone for a crude pass up the inside of the Loews hairpin. He's got the speed, but not the space - he just bumps into the Ferrari, and Mark Webber for very good measure. Something red flashes away from Massa's vehicle.
Lap 33 Button pits from very first - it's a superb quit, 4.three seconds. He drops into a glorious stretch of track in third, with nobody in sight. It's falling into place for him. But still, it's a strange move, given that it means he is going to be stopping three times whilst Vettel can still go with a two-stop strategy.
Lap 32 Button's lead has stopped growing; it's now hovering around 13 and a bit seconds. Still, none too shabby.
Lap 30 Schumacher up the inside at the hairpin to overtake Rosberg. Ballsy move. Hamilton is still all over the Ferrari, but he hasn't got the edge within the few-and-far-between overtaking zones.
Lap 29 Terrific battle between Hamilton and Massa. Hamilton's a tenth or so behind, a constant menacing presence behind the Ferrari. Hamilton is desperate to get by - what a dismal weekend this has become for him. Petrov pits from fourth place.
Lap 28 Drive-through for Paul Di Resta, who was all over the pavement as he produced that ill-advised attempts at a pass.
Lap 26 The lead's at 13 seconds now. And Di Resta has lost his front wing soon after attempting to go up the inside of Alguersuari at the hairpin.
Lap 24 Button is now 11 seconds ahead of Vettel - he's a second a lap quicker on the choices.
Lap 23 Hamilton pits from seventh - plus the mechanics are not ready! They look totally surprised to see him, and he's 10 seconds in the pits. Red Bull and McLaren - two elite teams, hours of practice, typically models of military precision - have both blundered horribly.
Lap 21 The top 10: Button, Vettel, Alonso, Massa, Maldonaldo, Petrov, Hamilton, Barrichello, Di Resta, Kobayashi.
Lap 19 Button's cruising on the market - he's eight along with a bit seconds in front now. Webber also had a rotten pit-stop, and he's down in 14th.
Lap 18 Button has a six second lead over Vettel - who's 3 seconds ahead of Alonso. Alsonso is lapping much slower than the other people, though. New tyres not working out however.
Lap 17 In goes Alonso from first. He emerges just behind Vettel - and Button leads! Will that half-minute pitstop ruin Red Bull's day?
Lap 16 Button pits, rejoining in a tempting stretch of empty track. Schumacher's pit-stop was a lengthy 1 and he came out in 21st. Red Bull respond to McLaren's move and bring Vettel in - but they've messed up! They weren't ready with the harder tyres, and Vettel's losing seconds and seconds as they fetch out a brand new set of tyres. What was that about?! Possibly they had the tyres for Webber ready instead...
Lap 15 That's superb from Massa, attempting once again to obtain by the Mercedes of Rosberg, which was losing pace. He passes him going into the chicane and Maldonaldo also manages to obtain by Rosberg in his slipstream.
Lap 14 Massa tries to surge past Rosberg going up to Casino Square - he was in no way going to create it, and in the end he gets too close, makes contact, and loses a little piece of his front wing.
Lap 13 Schumacher pits from 10th.
Lap 12 Button took four tenths out of Vettel's lead in that lap; Alonso closed the gap by two tenths.
Lap 10 Schumacher tells his team his tyres are grained; and positive sufficient, Lewis Hamilton soon uses the DRS to get past up the inside at turn 1. Schumacher didn't think he'd go for the past and left just a little space, and Hamilton didn't need to have a second chance.
Lap 9 Vettel's now lapping 3 seconds quicker than Schumacher and Hamilton, who are having a terrific battle for 9th. Button, although, is just beginning to peg Vettel back, and has opened up a second or so over Alonso.
Lap 8 Hamilton has just a little peek around Michael Schumacher going into Sainte Devote, jumping out of the slipstream, but the German holds his line.
Lap 7 Vettel's now 4.4 seconds ahead of Button, who's got his function cut out just staying in front of Fernando Alonso. Hamilton's missing a little chunk of rear wing immediately after that early bump into turn 1.
Lap five Hamilton's quite close to Michael Schumacher. It'll be tough to get by Schumacher, who's so experienced round this track.
Lap 3 It looks like Hamilton hasn't got a flat right after all. But he is 14 seconds behind the lead, having began on the harder tyres.
Lap two Schumacher bumped Hamilton's rear wing going into turn 1, Sainte Devote, along with the McLaren's taken some damage. "I may have a flat tyre," he says. Vettel is 3 seconds away already. Way out of reach for the DRS.
Lap 1 What a large lead for Vettel immediately - a great start and he's storming away from Button. The order's Button, Alonso - who snuck by Webber - Webber, Rosberg. Michael Schumacher dropped several places off the start but then produced a moment of brilliance to overtake Hamilton at the hairpin. A fantastic commence for Rosberg.
1302 "The steering's genuinely heavy" says Button to McLaren, who tell him they'll look into it, sounding fairly perturbed.
1300 So each and every driver has to use both tyre compounds, soft and Pirell's new super-softs. Which is, unless it rains. Which doesn't look likely at all with azure skies over the Med.
1259 There's the low rumble of engines as the pit-crews leave the grid. They're off for the formation lap.
Quote FIA President Jean Todt: "Monaco is wonderful, it is portion of the history of motorsport, both rallying and F1. There is a lot of discussion going on [about F1's future] but it is a strong sport, a strong business enterprise and I'm pretty significantly looking forward to a good deal of harmony within the future." Thanks Jean. Who doesn't like harmony?
1251 In other breaking pitlane news, Geri Halliwell "loves the smell of petrol." She also says that Sebastian Vettel "sounds like a very nice water, doesn't it." She's just saying whatever comes into her head, sounding rather like someone emerging from heavy sedation, until Brundle mercifully sends her on her way.
1250 Couldn't let this picture go unpublished. It is Bernie Ecclestone being dwarfed by his daughters Petra (left) and Tamara
1245 Oh dear, a grid walk fail for Martin Brundle. "So, Adrien Brody," he yells above the engine noise at a hip-looking bloke who is patently not Adrien Brody. "Oh! So I do not know why you've been put in front of me!" Turns out it's Stuart Cost, a bemused record producer who's too cool to have any real opinions on Formula One.
Quote 1240 "I need to get a superb commence," says Jenson Button, who surely has a decent chance here if he can get the jump on the German early on. "That side of the grid is usually tricky as it is off camber, but our starts have been fantastic all season, apart from in Spain. We can still race and actually fight for a victory although we're not on pole. Monaco is very tricky for overtaking but there's only one person who is superior positioned than I am. And if I win I'm running down the pit lane. I'll get told off but it's a special place to win so you want to enjoy it with everyone."
1225 Bomb scare in Monte Carlo - a false alarm.
Press Association: A bomb disposal professional has safely dealt with a suspect package within the Formula 1 paddock ahead of today's Monaco Grand Prix.
An alert was raised as a black rucksack had been wedged between a concrete pillar along with a white metal fence that separates the paddock from a walkway that runs alongside it.
With film crews, photographers, media, paddock guests and other F1 personnel searching on from a distance of around 20 metres, the expert in full bomb disposal gear moved in.
With the rucksack 10 metres away from the FIA motorhome, initially he cut a handful of plastic ties holding the metal fence in place to permit him access to the bag.
Immediately after it was snared and placed on the floor, the expert utilised a device to check if there was anything inside, rapidly giving a thumbs-up sign to indicate all was okay.
Afternoon. Red Bull on pole once more, Vettel's fifth in six races this year. "He'll run away with it, I'm certain," stated Lewis Hamilton, who's stuck down in ninth on the grid right after what he known as one of his worst qualifying sessions. On the bright side for McLaren, Jenson Button's perfectly-timed final lap in Q3 gives him a great shot at repeating his victory here from two years ago.
But yesterday's qualifying was overshadowed by Sergio Perez's horrendous crash at the chicane. Button, himself one of a legion of drivers to have crashed in the same spot, described the experience vividly: “You’re a sled and the automobile usually aims straight for the barrier. You come off the wall and it pushes you in that direction.” It was nasty, but Sauber's rookie is recovering nicely.
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CIRCUIT DE MONACO
- Circuit length three.340km/2.075 miles
- Laps 78
- Race distance 260.520km/161.879 miles
- Lap record 1min 14.439secs (Michael Schumacher, 2004)
- 2010 winner Mark Webber (Red Bull)
- 2010 pole position Mark Webber (Red Bull) 1min 13.826secs
- 2010 fastest lap Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 1min 15.192secs
- Tyre compounds to be utilized Soft/super soft
- Bumpiness Medium
- Overtaking chance Very low
- Engine severity Very low
- Brake severity Medium/high
- Average speed 182kph (113mph)
- Full throttle per lap 53%
- Gear changes per lap 55
- Number of corners 19 (8 Left/11 Correct)
RACE POINTERS
• Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel has started from the front row at just about every race since last year's Singapore GP, a run of 10 overall, including seven times from pole.
• Sunday's win in Spain was the 14th of Vettel's career, moving him up to equal 14th on the all-time list alongside Graham Hill, Jack Brabham and Emerson Fittipaldi.
• Vettel is now on a run of seven consecutive podium finishes, the very best considering that Jenson Button at the commence of the 2009 season.
• The 23-year-old has won 10 of his races from pole, joining Mika Hakkinen in eighth location on the all-time list.
• The late Ayrton Senna holds the record for most number of wins in Monaco with six, followed by Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher with five.
• McLaren are streets ahead in terms of constructors' success as they've 15 victories between 1984 and 2008. Ferrari have nine, albeit their last was now 10 years ago in 2001.
• As you would anticipate given the nature of the track, pole has resulted in victory in six of the last seven races. Nevertheless, within the five seasons prior to that pole didn't even result in a podium.
• The highest winning grid position was 14th set by Olivier Panis in 1996 in a Ligier.
• Last year there had been just 20 pit stops, this year there could possibly be four times that quantity.
• This year's grid boasts six former winners: Red Bull's Mark Webber (2010); McLaren's Jenson Button (2009) and Lewis Hamilton (2008); Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (2006-07); Lotus' Jarno Trulli (2004) and Mercedes' Michael Schumacher (1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001).
• It takes approximately six weeks to prepare the public streets for the grand prix, and 3 weeks to return them to their normal configuration.
• The circuit has 33km of safety rails, 5000 tyres inside the tyre barriers, 554m of Tecpro barriers and 20,000 square metres of protective wire netting.
• Circuit safety functions include: 650 race marshals in 22 marshal sectors, seven fire vehicles and three extraction vehicles, along with 120 professional fire fighters and 500 fire extinguishers - equivalent to 1 each 15m.
Monaco Grand Prix Live: Follow all the drama from Monte Carlo as the F1 circus rolls into the principality
Sebastian Vettel was back to his brilliant ideal on Saturday, and will start today's Monaco Grand Prix from pole for the fifth time in six starts this season.
Yesterday's session having said that, was overshadowed by the harrowing shunt suffered by rookie Sergio Perez. The 21-year-old Mexican was rushed to hospital right after the 175 mph crash knocked him unconscious. Perez was kept in hospital overnight with concussion, plus a sprained thigh. He will not take part in today's race, but has already vowed to be back on the grid in Canada.
Vettel will commence ahead of Jenson Button and Mark Webber, with Lewis Hamilton down in ninth. It is possible to join in on today's action by contacting me on Twitter, or dropping me an emai
Lap 52: Vettel leads Alonso by FOUR seconds, but just 16 ahead of Button. Has the tide swing back in McLaren's favour?
Lap 50: Hamilton pits for his second stop for tyres. It's been a busy, but pretty torrid afternoon for the Briton. Is Alonso a threat to Vettel. he last stopped on lap 34, but has employed both the super-soft, and soft compound. Will he need to pit again? Meanwhile, Button is now EIGHTEEN seconds behind Vettel. Surely, Vettel will exit behind Button. Why are Red Bull not responding?
Lap 48: And McLaren bring their man in, but he loses time on his out-lap after obtaining caught up behind back-marker Buemi. Button is down in P3. Will Red Bull respond by bringing Vettel in?
Lap 47: Button is EIGHT tenths down on Vettel...
Lap 46: 'It looks like Vettel is staying out for a though. If we desire to win this race we are going to have to pass him on track', Button is told. McLaren are regretting the decision to bring Button in. He lost track-position to Vettel, and is losing time regardless of being on the faster tyre.
Lap 45: So, who is going to win today's race? Let me know what you feel by dropping me a line...(see above)
Lap 43: No surprise there then, as Lewis is awarded a drive-through, and comes in straightaway. He exits in P9. vettel and Button are now SEVEN seconds clear of Alonso, and 25 ahead of Sutil, who is running down in P4. Kobayashi is in P5, with Webber in P6.
Lap 42: Bear in mind Jenson is on the super softs, with Vettel on the harder tyre. Button will need to pit again, and run the slower harder tyre. Vettel will run the super softs following his next stop. Vettel has to be in pole-position now.
Lap 41: I think Jenson has heard you, Simon. He's now 0.5secs behind Vettel. The Brit is flying.
Lap 40: Here's Sportsmail's Simon Cass: 'Could we be faced having a scenario that Hamilton's move on Massa, which caused the Ferrari driver to collect the barrier in the tunnel and bring out the safety automobile, cost Jenson Button chance of a win? It was the worst probable time for it to take place to Button who has wasted valuable laps cruising behind the safety car on his super soft tyres. Time to get the hammer down JB.
Lap 39: Vettel is 3.6secs up on Button, with Alonso in P3, Sutil in P4, and Kobayashi in P5. Unsurprisingly Hamilton is under investigation. I'd be really surprised if he does not get penalised.
Lap 38: Safety car is in at the end of this lap.
Lap 37: The safety auto is still out as the marshalls recover Massa's stricken Ferrari.
Lap 36: Vettel leads from, Button and Alonso. Button and Alonso have both stopped twice, with leader Vettel yet to pit for a second time.
Lap 35: Surely, Hamilton will come under investigation for that move on Massa. It was wild. but the Briton declares his innocence. 'He turned into me. it was deliberate,' Lewis says over the team-radio.
Lap 34: SAFETY Automobile OUT! Hamilton is alongside Massa in the tunnel - the Brazilian runs wide on the marbles and collides with the barrier. Schumacher's race is over, as his Mercedes comes to a halt following Rascasse. I don't think he parked it their 'deliberately' thought that time. Whoops, did I say that out loud?
Lap 33: Jenson Button is in for his second pit-stop, and he leaves in clear space in P3. A frustrated Hamilton throws one down the inside of Massa at the hairpin, but he's too far behind. That is a ludicrous move - the pair collide.
Lap 32: Suspension damage for Timo Glock, who's race is over. Extremely he's the first retirement nowadays.
Lap 30: Button leads from Vettel by over 14 seconds. Alonso is P3, with Lewis staring at the gearbox of Massa's Ferrari, way down inside the battle for 10th - a tough day for Hamilton.
Lap 29: For a second time currently, Schumacher passes a different competitor at the hairpin, sliding 1 down the inside of Rosberg. Nico did well not to turn into his countryman.
Lap 28: Could Button be on for his very first McLaren win in dry conditions? He's searching very good. One more incident-packed race. These new regulations, and the introduction of Pirelli tyres are working wonders this season.
Lap 27: Drive-through for PDR for his earlier misdemeanour, with Hamilton all over the back of Massa inside the battle for P11. Button now over 13 seconds ahead of Vettel.
Lap 26: Here's Sportsmail's Simon Cass' verdict on events as they unfold from Monaco: Er, this is meant to be Monaco an no overtaking. The moves by Hamilton, Barrichello, Maldonado and Massa obtain rounds of applause within the press room. Most effective Monaco Grand Prix I can bear in mind for a long time. Pit quit disasters for both Red Bulls and Lewis Hamilton. Jenson Button is the significant benefactor and also the man who can look after his tyres superior than anyone else is on a distinct technique to Vettel. JB has promised one more pit straight sprint if he wins.
Lap 25: Di Resta loses his front wing after diving up the inside of Alguersuari at the hairpin. He'll have to come in for repairs, as Maldonado pits from P5.
Lap 24: Button is 1 second-a-lap quicker than Vettel. Incredible.
Button will be the fastest man on the track
Lap 22: Disaster for Hamilton - his weekend goes from bad-to-worse. He comes in for a pit-stop, but, not for the very first time currently, the mechanics are not ready for their driver. His quit is over NINE seconds and he leaves the pits way down the order in p14, and tucked up behind Webber. Button meanwhile is now over TEN seconds ahead of Vettel. He is flying on the super softs.
Lap 20: Rosberg is way down in P18, and Schumacher P19, though Button is now EIGHT seconds ahead of Vettel. Only Button, Vettel, Webber, and Alonso have pitted of the top 10. Hamilton is tucked up behind Petrov in P7.
Lap 19: Here's a run down on the top 10: Button leads from Vettel, Alonso, Massa, Maldonado, Petrov, Hamilton, Barrichello Di Resta, Kobayashi.
Lap 18: Button is SIX seconds ahead of Vettel, while Alonso struggles on his out-lap. He was FIVE seconds slower than the Briton there. Worried faces at Ferrari.
Lap 16: Chaos at Red Bull. Vettel comes in to response to Button, but the mechanics aren't ready for him. They've got Webber's tyres out, and not Vettel's! A slow quit for the German ensues, and an even slower 1 for Webber. Jenson Button now LEADS the grand prix, and is flying. Incredible! Webber is way down the field in P14.
Lap 15: Button is in for a set of super softs, and re-joins the track in P4. Alonso up to P2, and Webber P3. Ferrari standing by having a new front wing for Massa if required. He lost his end-plate after touching Rosberg. Nico is in for his very first pit-stop.
Lap 14: Felipe Massa loses a piece of his front wing in the run down to Casino Square acquiring to close to Rosberg, but then nails the Mercedes in the swimming pool complicated, with Maldonado following the Ferrari man by way of. The Mercedes drivers a re genuinely struggling with tyre wear here.
Lap 12: Schumacher's going backwards. So much for that podium. Barrichello passes his former team-mate into Mirabeau, and then duly pits for a new set of boots. But his team aren't ready for him, and it is a slow quit. What an oh-so disappointing race for Schuey so far.
Lap 11: This is refreshing. We're 11 laps in, and we haven't had any pit-stops. Schumacher now thirty seconds down on Vettel. Button four seconds down on Vettel
Lap 10: Brilliant move from Hamilton. The Briton activates the DRS on the pit-straight and slides one up the inside of Schumacher to take P9. Excellent driving from Schumacher, who just about turned into the McLaren, but backed out of it. Hamilton gestures to the German, as if to ask 'what are you doing'? Superb driving from both world champions.
Lap 8: This is like watching Nigel Mansell harass Ayrton Senna all those years ago. Hamilton is CLEARLY quicker than the 42-year-old, but he just cannot locate a way around the German. He's a country-mile behind Vettel now. Schumacher says his rear tyres are grained. He's 3 seconds slower than Vettel, whilst Button is now matching the Red Bull. He's 1.6secs up on Alonso.
Lap 6: Hamilton lost part of his rear-wing in that collision with Schumacher at Turn 1 on the very first lap. The German's Mercedes kicked into anti-stall off the line... a truly miserable commence from Michael.
Lap five: Vettel leads from Button by 4.2secs, who is a second or so up on Alonso. Hamilton tucked up behind the man, who has led far more laps than anybody else around Monaco... That is Schumacher in case you didn't know.
Lap four: Tv replays show that Schumacher lost portion of his rear wing on the run down to Saint Devote right after baulking at the start off. Surprising, as the seven-time champion is commonly supreme off the start-line. Will McLaren bring Lewis in early to obtain the jump on Schumacher. Don't forget, Hamilton was one of the favourites to stick it on pole yesterday. He's been incredibly fast this weekend.
Lap three: No puncture for Lewis, according to McLaren, but the Brit is already ELEVEN seconds down on race-leader Vettel.
Lap two: Vettel is 3.2secs ahead of Button already - extraordinary. The German is romping away at the front of this race. How numerous times have we stated that already this season? Still no news on a suspected puncture for Lewis. He's keeping tabs on Schuey, but it is notoriously impossible to pass around here.
Lap 1: Vettel leads from Button, with Alonso in third right after finding the jump on Webber, who's in P4. A brilliant begin from Rosberg in P5, but team-mate Schumacher is down to P9. The five-time Monaco winner was in p10, but passed Hamilton at the chicane. Lewis is on the radio to say he was hit by Schumacher, and could have a right rear puncture.
1.01pm: Jenson Button reporting 'really heavy steering' on the parade lap. I'll keep you posted.
12.58pm: A great effort from Schuey, a five-time winner in Monaco, to stick it in fifth. Will today's race mark a return to the podium for the first time considering that his ill-fated comeback? Aamir_yousuf thinks so on Twitter. 'Today is a great opportunity for Schumacher to create it to the podium,' he says.
12.55pm: It is a gorgeous day in Monaco. Here's a reminder of the leading 10: Vettel will start off ahead of Button, Webber, Alonso, Schumacher (with his finest quali of the season), Massa, Rosberg, Maldonado, Hamilton, Petrov
12.48pm: And here's Geri Halliwell giving her earth-shattering verdict on today's grand prix: 'I want Webber and Vettel (to win) - I like them. (Vettel) Sounds like a really nice water does not it. It is so remarkable to be down here. I love the smell of petrol.' - Er, thanks for that, Geri
12.43pm: 'Hi Phil my name's Kevin. I've been there in 01 and 02 awesome location the noise bounces of the walls let's hope no much more crashes out of tunnel. I've just performed London marathon and moonwalk in memory of my late friend Caron Keating. Have an excellent race, Kevin Cooke - thanks for your mail, Kevin - let's hope today's race is really a corker.
12.39pm: 'I started alongside Sebastian as soon as this year, and I got past him at Turn 1' - that is a confident JB for you from the grid. 'The track is in pretty great shape. It's a long grand prix, so we've got to remain concentrated for the full two hours, says Mark Webber in P3, and here's pole-sitter Vettel, who appears a bit tense right now: 'They will push challenging, so it's not a walk inside the park for us.'
12.30pm: Hamilton was fuming yesterday right after becoming caught out by Perez's shunt which led to a red flag. To create matters worse he was then penalised for cutting the chicane - he'll commence from P9. A enormous disappointment for the Stevenage-born man, who was fastest in Q1 and Q2. Can Lewis make his mark in today's race? Will Button give Vettel a run for his dollars? Let's hear your predictions. You can do so by dropping me an e-mail, or Tweet (see above)
12.24pm: Back to today's race, and Sportsmail's chief motor racing correspondent Simon Cass reports a 'bomb scare' inside the Monaco paddock: 'Scorching day down by the harbour and if the Monaco Grand Prix didn't offer drama sufficient we have had a bomb scare inside the paddock proper next to the FIA motor home.
'Thankfully nothing far more than a forgetful punter leaving his rucksack in the Stars and Bars watering hole opposite. Conspiracy theorists can stand down.
'I've been for a well-known men and women hunt within the paddock along with the most effective I've got for you up to now is former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker.
'On yet another note, Renault team manager Flavio Briatore has been here all weekend and I spotted him nipping into the FIA motor home for a quick chat... to be a fly on the wall!
12.20pm: We've just been told that Sergio Perez will remain in hospital for a different night immediately after his horror shunt in yesterday's qualifying session. A spokesperson from Sauber said the young Mexican had a 'very very good nights sleep' and is 'very well' - far better news then. That was a horrible crash yesterday, and could have been considerably worse had it been head-on. Sportsmail sends out its best wishes to Perez.
12.15pm: Nothing very beats Formula One's race around the principality of Monte Carlo does it? From the glitz and glamour to the finesse of racing around the narrow streets of the southern French port, Monaco really does have it all. And pole-king Sebastian Vettel will have the very best seat within the home for round 6 of the 2011 championship right after topping the timesheets on Saturday. The 23-year-old German will begin ahead of Jenson Button, Mark Webber, and Fernando Alonso, with Lewis Hamilton in ninth.
12.10pm: Fantastic afternoon everyone, and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix
