Hello and welcome to the first session from Monaco. The sun is shining and everything is in place for what should be an interesting one and half hours of practice.

Some of the drivers are getting into the cars now, it's pretty cool out there, just 19C

As always if you have any questions or want to make any observations, you can send them to me by clicking here. I'll try to post as many as possible throughout the session.

The cars are now being fired up, the sound of V8 engines resonating off the surrounding buildings.

Liuzzi leads the cars out on track, Vettel out early along with the backmarkers.

The Renault pit is getting excited: "Nothing beats admiring F1 cars on the streets of Monte Carlo. Both Robert and Vitaly on track for instal lap."

Liuzzi staying out for a flying lap. Third drivers Paul di Resta and Christian Klien won't be driving today as the teams want their race drivers to get as much track time as possible.

James asks: "Remembering large fields from years back, do you think we can expect to see more incidents in practice with six extra cars vying for (very) limited track space? Also, do you think it is going to be possible to tell anything about relative speed before perhaps Q3 as the track will most likely be quite packed and the slower cars acting as a mobile chicane?"

It will be very difficult to gauge who's fast until Q3. The drivers were keen for a split Q1 session to ease congestion, but an agreement couldn't be reached. It should just make the sessions that bit more interesting for the viewers, but don't be surprised if you hear plenty of racing driver excuses this weekend.

Hamilton, with diamonds on his helmet, performs a practice pit stop after his flying lap.

McLaren is the only team running an F-duct this weekend as the short straights mean there won't be a huge advantage to have a higher top speed.

Roger says: "Given how impossible it is to overtake, apart from driver errors and car unreliability, isn't qualifying position more like 90% of the race?"

I agree, and with the cars so reliable nowadays it makes a massive difference.

Markus asks: "Hi, do you think that Schumi will have a problem now when they have switched back to the old chassis, with the short wheelbase?"

Mercedes is using the shorter wheelbase version of the chassis it used before Spain. A shorter wheelbase tends to make it easier to change the car's direction so that's why they have done it. The only concern is that it was chewing up the rear tyres in the opening races and rear-end grip and traction is so important in Monaco. I'm sure they've considered that and made appropriate adjustments.

Alguersuari is the only car on track at the moment, and has set a time of 1:30.020. On his second attempt he knocks that down to 1:26.141, still looks a little edgy out there - this is the first time he has driven at Monaco in an F1 car.

James asks: "I know the track isn't "rubbered in" yet, but why wouldn't some of the drivers try to get out before the track gets busy and see what they can do?"

You've answered your own question. Some cars will, especially the rookies - Petrov is out now - but the track changes so much that any data gathered now will be more or less useless by tomorrow.

Thoughts from Eamon: "Guys, just wanted to make a statement regarding Formula 1 and it's future. The FIA all talk about cost cutting etc - I remember a few years ago teams were able to use their same chassis the following year - now in the last couple of years teams had to build new chassis for the year thus being one for kers and the other for this years larger fuel tank. Why don't they stick to a setup and let it run for 3 or 4 years - hence no refueling - that's not a problem - racing was great back in 1990-1991 and that's the designs they need to go back to - floorboards hitting the ground etc.

"Anyway as for this weekend the slower cars are going to cause mayhem - I think it was worse last weekend especially when they were trying to get out of the way - like on turn 1 - I think they should just try and keep going at their normal pace instead of slowing down to much to let the leaders through. I think a new rule if more than 2 - 3 laps down cars should be disqualified or something similar."

Petrov has a huge lock up into the harbourside chicane.

Button squeezes past Kobayashi at the same point of the track on his first flying lap. He sets a time of 1:23.667, 2.442 off Alguersuari's best but there will be more to come from Button.

"Just want to know why first practice secion is Thursday and not Friday? Any background or history story?"

It's a tradition of Monaco that was orginally introduced to allow the town to return to some state of normality on Friday. Now they have a GP2 race on Friday anyway, so it is a bit of an outdated tradition. It also gives the teams and sponsors an extra day to hold functions and make deals.

Button is now fastest on a 1:18.468, 1.722 ahead of Alguersuari as more and more cars head out on the track. Vettel's not interested in heading out yet and is down at the swimming pool chicane watching drivers out on track.

Button knocks another 0.850 off his time, he's getting in the rythm now. Massa is sliding the rear end of his Ferrari around the tighter corners and is now second fastest.

Schumacher is out on track putting in a flying lap, he's not on the limit yet, just getting a sighter lap in.

Hamilton is now fastest with a 1:17.423, just 0.048 up on Massa. Massa responds with a 1:16.963, which is immediately beaten by Hamilton again.

Erza asks: "Just how long do you think it will be before the other teams start trying to emulate the exhausts of the Red Bull to see if it is really such a big contributing factor to their superior pace as some people are beginning to speculate?"

It's all about the suspension geometry, Red Bull is running pull rod rather than push rod suspension and that has allowed them really refine their upper-body aerodynamics, while still exploiting the diffuser. The exhausts pop out low down as well to help that. But I can't see many teams attempting to copy it as it would be such a huge task and might also contravene chassis homologation rules. It might be a popular solution next year though.

Alonso just manages to keep it out the barriers at the final corner, he is really testing the limits of that F10 around here but is half a second off Massa at the moment.

Paco asks: "In the old days there were usually one or two formula one drivers who stood out as 'rainmasters'. Stewart, Siffert and Rodriguez come to mind. Has anyone from the present crop distinguished himself into that group?"

I think Hamilton, Alonso, Schumacher and Vettel have all distinguished themselves in the wet during their careers. To pick the best drive of recent times, I would have to say Hamilton at Silverstone in 2008, closely followed by Vettel at Monza. Feel free to disagree add your most impressive wet race...

Right, back on track and Webber is out on a proper run now.

Times: Massa - 1:16.746, Hamilton - 1:16.936, Kubica - 1:17.106, Rosberg - 1:17.149, Alonso - 1:17.235

Vettel is also out on track now and should be about to set a more competitive time.

Brilliant piece of history on why we don't see F1 action on Friday from Felix: "I believe it was originally like that because every Friday there was a street market in Monaco and the tradition held."

Yellow flag but I'm not sure why. There's the reason, Chandhok is facing the wrong direction at the entrance to Casino Square.

He lost the rear end on entry and held a slide through the corner before finally making contact with the barrier. No serious damage and the HRT has been lifted away.

Neville offers some older classics in the wet: "Senna Donington 1993 with Mansells 2nd 1988 Silverstone in the naturally aspirated Williams Judd with newly fitted conventional suspension very close."

For fantastic drives we should also add Senna's first win in Portugal in 1985 - this list could end up getting very long...

I digress, Hamilton is now fastest with a 1:16.647. But we will only see hard tyre runs this session, you'll have to join us again for FP2 to see soft tyre runs and really quick lap times.

Laura says: "I was in Monza in 2008 and I had never been in such an exciting race, maybe 'cause everyone there was supporting Ferrari and I was the only one who was supporting Vettel (at least on my grandstand). It was a great race!"

I was there too and was backing Vettel!

And Massa beats Hamilton with a 1:16.517, solid start by Massa to what is a crucial GP for him.

Rosberg's car is in the garage and lots of work is going on. Clearly not happy with that Mercedes after his early runs.

Massa is sliding a lot but it's Alonso who has gone quickest now.

James spots a potential problem for Hamilton: "Mr. Hamilton set the quickest time when a yellow was being displayed. How is that even possible?"

Greg is impressed by Kubica's pace: "Has anyone paid attention to what Robert is doing with his Renault, matching Massa's pace?"

It's still early in the weekend though, and we have no idea what fuel they are running. For the record, Kubica's time is a 1:16.447, 0.296 off Alonso.

Word from Renualt on Kubica's times: "Robert's second fastest at the moment just behind ALO. He's completing his run, Vitaly's in the garage until his next run."

Update from Virgin: "Timo moves in to the 19 second bracket. Lucas says the track is improving but so is the car"

Alonso is the first to break into the 1:15s with a 1:15.927, half a second up on Kubica.

Webber struggling a bit on track, over-running the Nouvelle chicane. He's currently 14th - 2 seconds off Alonso - so maybe not happy with the way that Red Bull is handling.

Vettel is 0.531 off Alonso's time in the second Red Bull. Webber is on a long run, and gradually edging up the standings as the fuel burns off.

Neville says: "I know it is early days but it is strange how Rosberg seems to be the one battling an ill handling Mercedes. Clearly the drivers do have substantially differing driving styles, making developement a difficult affair."

Good point, Rosberg is now back in the car but hasn't hit the track yet.

Vettel getting very close to the barriers out of Casino Square, great to watch.

With ten minutes remaining, only the Mercedes, Virgins and Kobayashi are in the pits.

Mark says: "The amount of laps being completed by all teams is high, has this got to do with the average lap time for Monaco being less then other tracks? Also I have noticed Alonso has completed the highest number of laps for the front runners. Do you think this could be a concern for Ferrari after Alonso having already suffered 2 engine failures already for this season?"

This isn't a very difficult race for the engines - about 40% is spent at full throttle - so I'm sure Ferrari have got everything under control.

Kubica, is getting lots of oversteer in his Renault, still a few set-up issues to be ironed out for him.

Vettel is now second fastest with Webber third. Red Bull is starting to show its hand around here.

Just a couple of minutes remaining but no sign of any fast laps from the front runners. Webber's last attempt was held up by Button and he is not happy about it.

Kobayashi has lost his front wing on the entry to the swimming pool. He got understeer into the chicane and clipped the kerb, sending his car up in the air and into the barriers.

That yellow flag has prevented anybody setting a better time so Alonso is quickest in the first session. He set a Alonso - 1:15.927, Vettel - 1:16.000, Kubica - 1:16.016

Thank you for joining us, make sure you check back for FP2 at 12:00 GMT. We should see some soft tyre runs and a more representative set of times.