Ahead of today's sole practice session, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 28 degrees. It is bright and sunny.

Ferrari enjoyed a 1-2 in both of yesterday's sessions, with Mercedes and Red Bull looking strong, and McLaren not only off the pace but suffering a battery issue which sidelined Norris and resulted in the Woking team having to break the curfew.

Audi looks to be best of the rest, and Williams has been thereabouts, but all that could change in qualifying once traffic and track limits take their toll. Other than close encounters with the barriers, we've seen a number of lock-ups and excursions, and we fully expect this to continue.

For "medical reasons", Fred Vasseur is not present today and only time will tell if this proves to be a good sign for the Maranello outfit or a bad omen.

The lights go green and a few moments later Hamilton heads out, followed by Bottas, Leclerc, Stroll and Lawson. All are on softs.

Only Lawson posts a slightly sensible lap, the kiwi crossing the line at 17.223.

Alonso is warned of a tailwind into Turn 10, the Novelle Chicane which caught out so many drivers yesterday.

Hamilton posts a 15.246 but his teammate responds with a 15.184.

Bottas complains that his right-front brake is smoking, which is exactly what happened to his teammate yesterday.

Colapinto misses the Nouvelle Chicane, as Lawson consolidates third with a 15.479.

"I'm catching fire on the left-front brake," warns Perez.

Quickest in the first two sectors, Hamilton improves to 14.390 as Norris goes eighth with a 19.040.

Norris improves to third with a 15.176 as Lindblad goes fifth and Ocon sixth.

Hamilton warns that one cool down lap is not enough for his front tyres.

Eleven minutes in and we've yet to see the Mercedes or Red Bulls.

A 14.375 sees Norris go top by 0.015s, as Bearman goes seventh, and Stroll clouts the barriers.

Lawson goes third and Hulkenberg fourth, as Verstappen finally heads out.

Verstappen goes third (14.509), but is demoted when Russell goes top with a 13.902.

Hamilton improves to second with a 14.003 as Hadjar goes fifth (14.793).

Norris improves but remains third as Antonelli goes fourth with a 14.22, only to be demoted when Leclerc stops the clock at 13.748.

Hulkenberg goes eighth, 0.905s off the pace.

Quickest in S2, Antonelli maintains his pace in the final sector, finally crossing the line at 13.374.

Hulkenberg improves to sixth, but is demoted when Piastri goes fourth with a 13.945.

Gasly improves to ninth and Hadjar to seventh.

Russell goes second, just 0.109s off his teammate's pace.

Leclerc retakes the top spot with a 13.355 but Antonelli responds with a 13.137.

Gasly improves to tenth while teammate Colapinto can only manage seventeenth.

Antonelli takes a very bumpy ride over the kerb at the Nouvelle Chicane.

Colapinto sins at the Hairpin and lightly nudges the barrier with his rear as Lawson complains of a big moment in the Swimming Pool. "I have no idea what happened," he admits.

As the Alpine crew check the rear of Colapinto's car for damage, there are just six drivers on track.

Both Ferrari drivers have completed the most laps (21), ahead of Lawson (20), Bortoleto, Sainz and Lindblad all on 17.

With 22 minutes remaining, Antonelli, Leclerc, Russell and Hamilton head out on fresh softs.

"S*** that was close," says Lawson after a mighty wobble as he exited the Swimming Pool.

On his fresh rubber, Antonelli posts a 12.720, despite losing pace in the final sector.

PBs in the first two sectors, but Leclerc has to abort when he encounters a whole load of traffic at Rascasse. Russell also aborts his lap.

Bearman improves to twelfth.

As Bortoleto goes fifth, Hamilton improves to second (13.051), having posted PBs in all three sectors. The Ferrari sliding around all over the place.

Verstappen goes fifth with a 13.662.

Out come the yellows, then the red, after Bearman hits barrier at Casino. While it is hard to see how badly damaged the Haas is, there is debris on the track behind it.

"I'm sorry guys," says the Briton, "it's the bottoming."

Replay shows he lost the rear after overtaking Russell at the top of the hill, going off the racing line and on to the dusty outside part of the track.

As they await confirmation of when the session will resume, the teams are chomping at the bit.

Green light! With 4 minutes remaining it's going to be frantic.

Perez leads the way, followed by Bottas, Colapinto, Gasly and Hulkenberg.

"These brakes are horrendous, horrendous," says Leclerc.

I clear air, only the Cadillac pair posts PBs in the first sector.

Perez remains 18th and Bottas 20th as Albon momentarily brings out the yellows as heads down the escape road at Ste Devote, as Leclerc gets out shape in the Hairpin. Norris accuses Hamilton of deliberately impeding him at the Swimming Pool exit.

Sainz goes twelfth, Verstappen remains fifth, but in all reality there was never any chance of a genuine improvement, which is no doubt a glimpse of what we can expect in Q1.

Antonelli is quickest, ahead of Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Verstappen, Piastri, Bortoleto, Hadjar, Norris and Hulkenberg.

Ocon is eleventh, ahead of Sainz, Gasly, Bearman, Lawson, Albon, Lindblad, Perez, Colapinto, Bottas, Alonso and Stroll.

An interesting session, and one which makes clear that Ferrari is not going to have its own way. Yes, the late stoppage messed things up, but even before that Antonelli was showing that Mercedes is very much in the fight.

While Russell doesn't appear as comfortable as his teammate - what is it with Woody not 'liking' or being comfortable at certain tracks, Max can never be written off.

If those final minutes were a portent of what is to come tis afternoon, it should be an intriguing session with a few surprises.