Monaco Grand Prix live report

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Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren seeks to avoid the spinning Romain Grosjean at the opening turn of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Lap 31/78: Ferrari‘s Fernando Alonso has now come in for his first stop of the race. Lewis Hamilton has the lead now

Lap 29/78: As we wait for the rain to come, Webber and his fellow Red Bull Sebastian Vettel make their first pit stop. They all have slick tyres on but if the rain comes strategies could well change…

Lap 27/78: Rosberg has closed to within 1.5 seconds of Webber in front. And now the German goes into the pits for his first stop of the day, allowing Lewis Hamilton to take second place!

1237 GMT: This is what Kamui Kobayashi, whose Sauber crashed out early on, told BBC television a moment or two ago: “The problem was the suspension. I didn’t expect it to happen like that (going over the kerb). Its disappointing.”

Lap 22/78: Still no pit stops for the leading drivers. The tyres are hanging on well. Rosberg is almost 2.3 seconds down on leader Webber

1227 GMT: AFP’s Daniel Ortelli at the track has confirmed for us that the drivers who cut the opening Sainte Devote corner to avoid the spinning Grosjean will not face any punishment

Michael Schumacher rolled back the years with the fastest time in qualifying for Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix but a five-place grid penalty means he starts from sixth.

Lap 17/78: These are the leading race positions: 1. Webber, 2. Rosberg, 3. Hamilton, 4. Alonso, 5. Massa, 6. Vettel, 7. Raikkonen, 8. Schumacher, 9. Hulkenberg, 10. Senna, 11. Di Resta

Lap 15/78: Sergio Perez has just set the fastest lap of the race so far in his Sauber. Meanwhile, Grosjean has just been speaking about his disappointment at seeing his race come to such a premature end: “I’m very disappointed obviously. I just was caught blind coming into the corner and got hit from behind,” he said.

Lap 13/78: Mark Webber is controlling this race at the moment, but we can expect the first pit stops anytime now. Meanwhile, the weathermen are telling us that rain could appear in the next little while. That will have an impact on tyre strategy of course.

Lap 11/78: Schumacher – five teams a winner here in Monaco – is still in 8th position. The only man to win here six times is a certain Ayrton Senna. The legendary Brazilian’s nephew Bruno is racing here for Williams-Renault today and is tenth just now.

Lap 8/78: Meanwhile, out on the track, Webber is holding his position nicely. Grosjean – strongly fancied by some to win here – is out, along with Pedro De La Rosa (ESP/HRT-Cosworth), Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber-Ferrari) and of course the unfortunate Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault)

1211 GMT: The Monaco Grand Prix is undoubtedly the most picturesque, but also one of the toughest in the F1 calendar. Here’s a reminder of the circuit thanks to the AFP graphics team:

Mercedes’ driver Michael Schumacher during the qualifying session at the Circuit de Monaco ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.

LAP 4/78: Webber still leads and is trying to stretch his advantage over Nico Rosberg in second. Schumacher has slipped down to 8th.

LAP 2/78: Webber came through all that unscathed and holds on to first place. Jenson Button, who started from the sixth row, may just have been touched by Grosjean at the first turn and has lost time. Not a good start for the 2009 world champion…

LAP 1/78: A crazy start. Romain Grosjean went spinning right at the first turn. Pastor Maldonado, winner in Barcelona two weeks ago, is out already. The safety car is on track…

1202 GMT: And it’s GO GO GO! We’re off in the 70th Monaco Grand Prix…

1201 GMT: The cars are on their warm-up lap. We’re nearly ready to go here…

1152 GMT: This race always attracts a host of celebrities from around the world. The German national football team are here today – they are preparing for Euro 2012 in the south of France but are having a day off today after losing 5-3 to Switzerland in a friendly last night.

1149 GMT: The man on pole position has a bigger advantage than usual in Monaco. Seven of the last ten Monaco Grands Prixs have been won by the driver that started the race on pole. The man in that position today is Mark Webber – the Aussie is looking to repeat his victory here in 2010.

German national football team players Mesut Ozil (right) and Sami Khedira visit the Mercedes stand in the pits ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.

1144 GMT: The top ten grid positions are: Front row: Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault), Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes-AMG); 2nd row: Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes), Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus-Renault); 3rd row: Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari), Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes-AMG); 4th row: Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari), Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Lotus-Renault); 5th row: Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault), Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Force India-Mercdes)

1140 GMT: Remember coming into this, the sixth race of the season, defending world champion Sebastian Vettel is top of the drivers’ standings with 61 points alongside Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. Britain’s Lewis Hamilton follows on 53 points, with Kimi Raikkonen (49) and Mark Webber (48) next.

WELCOME TO OUR LIVE REPORT of the Monaco Grand Prix, one of the world’s most glamorous sporting events. Australia’s Mark Webber starts from pole despite coming in second-fastest in Saturday’s qualifying. Michael Schumacher rolled back the years with the quickest time but a five-place grid penalty means he starts from sixth. Schumacher’s Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg joins Webber on the front row.