F1 Monaco GP Thursday Practice 1: As it happened

Formula 1 returns to Monaco after a gap year for the fifth round of the 2021 World Championship this weekend - and we begin our coverage with Thursday's first practice session.

After missing out on a spot on the 2020 Formula 1 calendar, the Monaco Grand Prix returns this year. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes won the event in 2019, though, given the circuit's unusual characteristics, it would surprise no one if one of the other teams could spring a surprise.

The team most likely to challenge the German juggernaut is Red Bull, who with Max Verstappen has pressured the ultra-dominant Mercedes and Hamilton combination. The circuit should suit the characteristics of the RB16B so expect the Austrian team to challenge at the front of the grid.

Other surprises could include McLaren and Ferrari who are locked in a tight battle for third.

Two practice sessions, each an hour-long, will be held on Thursday, and you can keep up to speed with everything that happens on track right here on the RacingNews365 live blog.

Live timing automatically refreshes so you are always up to date, and we will also provide you with the latest news and all the developments straight from Monaco. Just choose between the Live Timing and Live Blog below.