How the Monaco Grand Prix unfolded

It's developed to drizzle, let's see how that unfolds shortly.

Weatherman George Russell is back for an update.

"Yeah it's raining more and more," is the latest news from the Mercedes man.

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Pull out your best Peter Kay impression.

"Spitting at Turn Three," says George Russell.

Matthew Murnaghan: Are we going to get rain hopefully? I hope so because all of these races has been a Red Bull runaway.

Sam Hartles: The problem with F1 this season is the durability of the tyres. A medium tyre should not be doing 48 laps of a race. Pirelli need to fix things for next season because if this is going to be the norm for the foreseeable future F1 is just going to get worse

"Maybe drops of rain about Turns Six to Eight," is the next message for race leader Max Verstappen to digest.

Rain in about 15 laps then. There's still the potential we can get some interesting strategies, something maybe that can turn this race on it's head but it's not for at least 15 laps.

Red Bull tell Max Verstappen "there are a few pockets of rain" that they are monitoring.

With Pierre Gasly pit stop, George Russell moves up to third and Esteban Ocon gets one spot closer to where he started the race in fourth.

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The fastest lap stopwatch visits Lewis Hamilton in P7. The upgraded Mercedes showing decent speed on the streets of Monaco. Pierre Gasly is next to strap on some medium tyres from third place.

The pit stop for Charles Leclerc shuffles the order at the top of the leaderboard. Max Verstappen leads, Fernando Alonso is second, Pierre Gasly is third and George Russell us running in fourth spot.

When is this rain coming? Aston Martin tell Alonso it'll be here... erm... soon.

It's currently 22 degrees, overcast, a mixture of light grey and dark grey clouds above, no sign of rain falling yet, although it is predicted in the next hour, 20% probability of rain at 4pm.

Pit call comes in for Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver completes a 2.2secs stop and rejoins the action behind the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton in eighth. Medium boots until the end of the race.

The top-five driver have yet to come in for a change of rubber. Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton have all swapped tyres and are running in sixth, seventh and eighth.

George Russell, in fifth, thinks Pierre Gasly just ahead is backing him up. "Don't know why," adds the Mercedes man.

Lewis Hamilton who is in a bit of a nip and tuck here with Charles Leclerc over who's going to come out in front, he started ahead of Leclerc on the grid, there's about a couple of seconds in it. If Leclerc was to pit now he would come out a couple of seconds behind Lewis Hamilton, let's see how much longer Leclerc stays out for.

Lance Stroll has been given a black and white flag for contact with Kevin Magnussen a few laps ago.

The Canadian is down in 15th place, with the Haas driver just in front in 14th spot.

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1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

4. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

5. George Russell (Mercedes)

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I can see exactly why Sainz is fuming, he was on the right tyre to stay out, on the hards, he doesn't care about keeping fourth, he wants third, he wants to stand on the podium in Monaco, they had a chance to overcut Ocon but Ocon actually did a good in lap after having a slow stop and now Ocon is still ahead of Sainz.

They've got no more strategy to play in apart from Sainz on a tyre that won't make it to the end of the race, or won't make it without dropping away. He's actually going to be looking in his mirrors now for the second half of this Grand Prix.

Ferrari have blown it straight away to try and defend from Hamilton, I can see their logic but if you're a driver here you don't care fourth and fifth, you want to be on the podium and that is what Sainz has spent half a race trying to do.

Max Verstappen still holds an eight-second advantage over the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso but now Charles Leclerc has moved up into his original position of third place after Esteban Ocon's slow pit stop. The Alpine driver is in Leclerc starting place of sixth.

Jeremiah Kariuki: Who would have thought of Alonso and Aston Martin being a threat to Verstappen on a race pace and win!

ashic: Almost surprised at #mercedes bringing in Hamilton with rain predicted in 2 or so laps. Going on hards is a big gamble, specially if the skies open up. Brilliant or blunder?

I need a pit crew as my internet just died!

Right, Sergio Perez has come in for a nose change after troubles with Kevin Magnussen. The Mexican has also been caught up with some track position issues with Lance Stroll.

Carlos Sainz also sounds furious on the team radio. Ferrari have got an earful.

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