Hello and welcome to live text commentary from the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. The race starts in just 15 minutes.

Vettel's pit stop was about 10 seconds too early - he ended up on the wrong side of the safety car there.

Drivers have to control their pace here, not use it as an excuse to bomb forward. This looks like something of a free stop for Mercedes as the safety car picks them up.

Vettel pits - AND THE SAFETY CAR IS OUT!

He had an almost identical crash in free practice yesterday, but he's escaped unhurt.

Nasty shunt at Ste Devote for Massa - can they clear the incident without the safety car?

Yellow flags! FELIPE MASSA HAS CRASHED!

Raikkonen stays ahead of Alonso! The Finn's pit stop has paid off. But for now the man to watch is Webber against Rosberg.

1:19.2 from Rosberg and that's the fastest lap of the race - he leads Hamilton by three seconds now, and Alonso pits.

Hulkenberg has pitted as well - so Webber's even better-placed to attack - but Rosberg is responding with his best lap.

Webber is gaining those places back as rivals stop. Up to 8th here, and more will come.

Button, Massa the next to pit. Others will follow soon. The onus is on Mercedes to counter.

Sensational pass! Di Resta gets Massa at turn one, going around the outside. Audacious and superb. Shame it was only for 15th!

Webber rejoins behind Hulkenberg in 11th. There's a gap behind him - a few seconds to work with.

Webber to come in for a stop!

Each Mercedes driver given another target to pick up their pace. They've had things largely their own way so far this afternoon...

The gaps at the front are fairly steady, but Mark Webber with a 1:19.750 sets a fastest lap of the race from fourth.

Bianchi and Maldonado have tangled way down at the back of the grid.

The drivers are cranking up the speed here - Alonso and Vettel set new fastest sectors.

A stop! Dan Ricciardo comes in from midfield. Who will follow him?

Only Pic has retired, meaning that we have had something of an incident-free procession thus far.

On the plus side, the streets and surroundings of Monte Carlo are just lovely.