Welcome to coverage of first practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, the jewel in the Formula One season.

Massa dives into the pits right in front of the emerging Max Chilton! The Briton stamps on the brakes to avoid a collision.

Hamilton was 15th after a tentative first lap but is now fourth with 1m17.990s. Rosberg now top with 1m17.005s.

Alonso locks up entering Ste Devote - on his first timed lap - but gets away with it.

Button goes second with 1m18.976s, over a second off the pace of the Brazilian.

Vettel and Webber leave the garage. Massa improves the benchmark to 1m17.685s despite being slowed by 'Guti'.

Kimi Raikkonen goes sixth with 1m21.812s. Hamilton out there but not the Red Bull guys.

Ricciardo betters his mark to 1m19.075s but remains second.

Button is fourth in the list. If you've got more patience than me, have a read of yesterday's press conference. I got as far as the Briton's "Good afternoon. Is it the greatest of them all? I don't know really..."

Plenty of cars out there now as Felipe Massa puts Ferrari top of the pile with 1m18.818s.

Ricciardo lays down an improved 1m21.493s while Jean-Eric Vergne, Nico Hulkenberg and Charles Pic are now also out there.

Gutierrez goes three-tenths faster than that... then Ricciardo sets a 1:22. /// The teams have been quiet on Twitter so far, but Sauber have started things off: "#Guti is out on track. Another lap of radio checks and then the usual Friday morning run."

The first time of the day then is 1m29.219s then Ricciardo sets a considerably faster 1m24.466s.

Daniel Ricciardo the second man out as Mexican Gutierrez starts a timed lap.

A few drivers are in their cars. We could be busy shortly.

Hurray! Esteban Gutierrez emerges from the Sauber garage. He is yet to score a point this season.

Will Gray is pleased that the modification of Pirelli's tyres will result in a competitive season and not Red Bull domination.

An hour to go in the session. Still no action - surely it is worth getting used to these twisty streets while it is quiet?

Humidity is only 27 per cent. Still no action on the track, and no times set as yet. Teams looking over data and reluctant to lay down all their rubber for the others to capitalise on later.

There is a new nosecone on the Ferrari, which is quite elegant this year.

The temperature is dropping - despite the sunshine it is a touch cool. Although it is still 22 degrees... the track temp is 30 degrees now.

Lewis Hamilton says he will put everything into getting pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix.