Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session, the air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 46 degrees. It remains bright and sunny.
While Ferrari dominated both of yesterday's session, it was Antonelli who led the way earlier, the youngster looking very, very strong.
Teammate Russell struggled, as did the Red Bulls and McLaren, Norris having another difficult session.
As we witnessed at the end of the session, following the red-flag period that resulted from Bearman's crash, 22 drivers trying to set competitive times on a 2-mile circuit simply isn't on, consequently we expect traffic to be an issue this afternoon, particularly in Q1.
Another factor will be track limits which will also surely take a toll. FP3 witnessed no less than 47 violations, with Turn 10 (Novell Chicane) once again proving to be the most problematic, along with Turn 1 (Ste Devote).
While Monaco rarely produces great racing due to the inability to overtake, qualifying is one of the true highlights, never more so than when you have a couple of competitive teams with ultra-competitive teammates.
While everyone is talking of a Ferrari win, which would surely prove popular, Russell cannot allow his teammate to extend his lead, and the first step in that particular tale will be a strong starting position tomorrow.
The lights go green and Perez leads the way, followed by Bottas, Colapinto, Gasly and Bearman.
As Perez begins his first flyer, Leclerc is the first o the big guns to head out.
"Charles backing into me," complains Hamilton as Perez posts a benchmark 20.242.
Though it is an exploratory lap, Russell is the first driver to have his time deleted.
Perez improves to 16.743, but Bearman responds with a 15.936.
A 15.477 from Lawson as Hadjar complains of the worst prep ever. He is not a happy bunny.
Norris posts a 14.295 but Leclerc responds with a 14.141 and Hamilton a 14.342.
A 14.313 puts Antonelli third.
Verstappen aborts his first flyer, as Bortoleto goes fifth and Hulkenberg sixth, the Audi pair looking strong this weekend.
Hadjar goes ninth, 0.866s off the pace.
Verstappen goes fifth with a 14.504, as Norris goes top with a 13.796 only to be demoted when Norris stops the clock at 13.399.
Piastri goes third with a 14.159 and Ocon eleventh.
Antonelli improves to third with a 13.946 but is leapfrogged by Hamilton (13.804) who was quickest in S2.
Russell is currently tenth, 1.458s off the pace, as Hadjar goes seventh.
Leclerc consolidates his top spot with a 13.293, as Antonelli goes second, only to be leapfrogged by Verstappen.
Russell improves to seventh with a 14.214, but remains 0.921s off the pace.
Lawson goes ninth and Alonso seventeenth.
Antonelli is shown the black and white for track limit violations as Bortoleto is off and in the barrier at the Novell Chicane, having clipped the barrier on the inside of the exit corner.
The session is red-flagged with 2:11 remaining. Perez, Bearman, Sainz, Bottas, Alonso and Stroll comprise the drop zone, with Ocon, Lindblad and Bortoleto hovering.
Green light, and Perez leads the way, followed by Bottas, Gasly, Bearman and Ocon.
Of the big guns, only Piastri, currently seventh, heads out.
In clear air Perez fails to improve, and while his teammate does improve he remains twentieth.
Bearman remains eighteenth, while Sainz goes tenth, which is bad news for Ocon.
Quickest is Leclerc, ahead of Verstappen, Antonelli, Norris, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Piastri, Russell, Albon and Sainz.
We lose Ocon, Perez, Bearman, Bottas, Alonso and Stroll.
Gasly gets Q2 underway, followed by Colapinto, Verstappen, Sainz and Lawson.
Sainz has been noted for an unsafe release.
Gasly posts a 20.220, the Frenchman clearly going for two warm-up laps.
No further action over that unsafe release.
Leclerc posts an 18.818, while his teammate crosses the line at 19.235.
A 13.205 puts Verstapepn top, as Sainz goes second ahead of Lawson.
Leclerc improves to 12.928 and Hamilton 13.091, however they are subsequently split by Piastri (13.072).
Norris goes top with a 12.778, but Antonelli responds with a 12.778.
Verstappen goes quickest in S1, the Dutchman subsequently crossing the line at 12.840 to go second.
Lawson improves to ninth, just behind Russell who is suffering oversteer.
Russell improves, but only to eighth, 0.617s off the pace, as his teammate consolidates the top spot with a 12.704.
Leclerc goes second with a 12.774, 0.0070s off the pace.
While Piastri improves he remains fifth, as his teammate remains fourth.
Albon and Lindblad have been noted for a pitlane incident.
Gasly goes ninth and Colapinto thirteenth.
Lawson improves to ninth with a 13.471, but is it enough?
With just over a minute remaining, all 5 drivers are on track.
Rusell remains eighth, as Verstappen goes top with a 12.499.
Sainz remains twelfth, as Hadjar goes third and Albon eleventh.
Hamilton remains sixth.
Quickest is Verstappen, ahead of Antonelli, Hadjar, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Piastri, Russell, Lawson and Gasly.
We lose Albon, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Lindblad and Bortoleto.
Despite the early promise, both Audis are out, while an alpine and RB are through.
Piastri gets Q3 underway, followed by Norris, Leclerc, Hamilton and Lawson.
Piastri posts an exploratory 19.182 and his teammate an equally exploratory 18.350.
A 16.662 from Leclerc as Hamilton opts for a second warm-up lap.
Piastri improves to 12.916 but Norris responds with a 12.765.
Hamiton posts a 12.553, having gone quickest in the final two sectors.
Rusell is third but is demoted when his teammate goes top with a 12.375.
Verstappen goes second, 0.001s off the pace, despite getting wildly out of shape at Rascasse.
Hamilton gets a black and white for failing to follow the race director's instructions.
A couple of mistakes on his flyer mean that Leclerc has failed to improve on his original time, which leaves him tenth.
The Monegasque heads out for his final assault, enjoying a clear track.
Leclerc backs off in S3, thereby leaving him with just one, possibly two, shots at improving.
He goes purple in S2, crossing the line at 12.351 to go top. The crowd cheers.
While others are posting PBs, Verstapepn goes purple in S1.
Gasly goes ninth, Piastri fifth, and Verstappen top, the Dutchman stopping the clock at 12.094.
Hamilton goes second with a 12.279, and as Russell goes sixth, Antonelli breaks Leclerc's heart with a 12.051.
Indeed, Leclerc has hit the wall at the exit to the Swimming Pool with his right rear, though he is able to get back to the pits.
Antonelli claims pole, ahead of Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Hadjar, Russell, Piastri, Norris, Gasly and Lawson.
Albon is eleventh, ahead of Sainz, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Lindblad, Bortoleto, Ocon, Perez, Bearman, Bottas, Alonso and Stroll.
Congrats to Kimi," says Hamilton, "that was a mega, mega job. First pole here is so special.
"It was tough for us," he adds, "we were looking so strong in practice, we hardly changed anything but the car was completely different in qualifying.
"But what a privilege to be one of the 22 drivers here able to do this.
"I think it great to see how close all the cars are. We lost something going into today, so we need to try and figure that out."
"If you would have told me yesterday front row, I would definitely have taken it," admits Verstappen. "It is extremely positive, so overall very happy with how the laps went.
"I'm happy, happy to be on the front row, and let's see tomorrow. These cars are complicated to start and I have two cars behind me that start quite well."
"It was one of those laps we call the magic lap," grins pole-man Antonelli, "I was able to put it all together.
"It was so close with Max, the first run there was just one millisecond. Massive thanks to the team as yesterday we struggled a little bit and today we improved massively.
"The most intense qualifying of the year," he admits. "I felt great and I am happy we could finish the job."
While that lap broke Leclerc's heart, and those of his many fans in the grandstands, it will have sent shivers down the spine of Russell, who is slowly watching his best chance of a title slip away week by week.
Of course, tomorrow is another day, as a woman once said in a movie, and other than Antonelli's start issues there is the little matter of Verstappen, not to mention the Ferrari and McLaren pairs. Hell, even Russell has a point to prove.
