F1 LIVE | Monaco Grand Prix - FP1

As usual, the Monaco Grand Prix weekend starts with the first free practice session on Thursday rather than Friday. Every practice counts on the street circuit, where confidence is essential. Will it be Red Bull Racing or Mercedes who come out on top, or will Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen make the difference?

The 2021 Formula One season has been an exciting one so far among teams and drivers. Mercedes has a slight lead over Red Bull, just as Hamilton also has a slight lead over Verstappen in the driver standings. In Monaco, however, they will be on an exceptional track.

The Monaco circuit is unlike any other. Every mistake punished harshly. Verstappen knows that all too well because his first two visits to Monaco weren't very good. Verstappen has recovered over the years but has never reached the podium. Meanwhile, Hamilton has lifted the winners trophy on three occasions in the streets of Monte Carlo.

In Monaco, it's all about confidence. You have to get into a rhythm during the weekend. A crash in one of the practice sessions can set you back. Everything is about qualifying on Saturday. In that session, you need to have the confidence in your car to drive at the limit.

In the early stages of the season, it looked as if McLaren had the advantage in the constructors battle for third. However, Ferrari have hit back strong and are expected to have a good weekend in Monaco with the circuit perhaps suiting their car more than others. Alpine have improved well over the last two Grands Prix and might start to get their names in the mix. And AlphaTauri probably haven't scored as many points as they should've.