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

Raikkonen drawing closer to Webber, but 0.5 seconds might as well be half a lap for all the chance he seems to have of getting past.

Replays of that McLaren collision as they came out of the tunnel - Perez had to go straight over the chicane to maintain his position. Are McLaren likely to haul their own man over the coals, though?

5.5 seconds separate the top six. Even the Caterham of van der Garde is lapping quicker.

Rosberg has just carved out a bit of a lead here, though. Hamilton is serving as a blocker behind him, and it's allowing the German a bit of clean air.

That suggests that there are a lot of frustrated drivers behind the leading Mercedes pair.

Maldonado, who changed tyres when he changed nose cone, is lapping two full seconds quicker than the front-runners.

'I know he's my team-mate but he's got to stop turning in on me guys,' says Button on the radio. He's talking about Perez, and the pair have already tangled in this race.

Webber has just settled off the back of Vettel at a healthy distance, and holding off Raikkonen and Alonso.

Rosberg and Hamilton's pace not the same as those a bit further down - they're either saving their tyres, or they're just not as quick.

Vettel swarming over the back of Hamilton here - but for now there's no obvious way around the Brit.

Sutil lost a piece of his front wing as well as he was taken by Button in that first hairpin.

At the front Nico Rosberg has pulled out a second advantage. Maldonado and Van der Garde into the pits after first lap contact.

But Pic has lost a wheel - big shunt there - and that's shaken things up at the back.

No changes in the top 10 - and they're all safe to Mirabeau...

Hamilton holds off a charging Vettel into turn one - that was close!

GO GO GO!

The weather is superb - dry, sunny. Perfect for racing.

Trouble for Bianchi - he didn't get away on the formation lap and he'll have to start from the pitlane - if he can.

Drivers are off on the formation lap - we're treated to some aerial views of the circuit as they do, and it really is quite spectacular.

My name is Mark Patterson, and I'll be covering the race for you live today. You can tweet me your thoughts and predictions for the Grand Prix right here @Mark_Eurosport.

ROW: Meanwhile, a row has developed over Mercedes and a 1000km test they ran with Pirelli after the Spanish GP. Red Bull are not happy and have protested at the team getting an unfair advantage - and they are not alone.