F1: Monaco Grand Prix – live!

The pit lane is a sea of red caps, all in tribute to Niki Lauda. It is overcrowded down there. “Mercedes has to win,” says Jackie Stewart, adorned by red cap. “If you are driving well, it is difficult to overtake.”

Thirty years ago, Ayrton Senna won at Monaco with two gears, after learning a harsh lesson the year before.

And an interview with Charles Leclerc, whose push for home glory will have to wait until next year, probably. If it doesn’t, this would be one of the greatest drives of all.

Here’s Giles Richards’ story of Saturday’s emotional qualifying session.

For many of the drivers, this is a drive around a neighbourhood that offers them tax benefits, a nice sea view and ready access to France or Italy. To the rest of us in the lumpen proletariat, it is a whistle-stop tour through unimaginable opulence, a whiff of James Bond and yachts beyond the wildest dreams of all but Charles Freer in Howard’s Way.

Monaco is the most famous grand prix of all, one in which the recipe for success is getting in front and staying there, usually from qualifying. Lewis Hamilton is on pole, which gives him a great chance of repeating his success in the Spanish Grand Prix, and extending his leadership at the top of the drivers’ championship.

That he is unlikely to be chased down by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is a pity. The only Monégasque in the field had a nightmare in qualifying and begins 15th on the grid.

This renewal, meanwhile, will be a celebration of the three-times world champion Niki Lauda, who passed away this week, a winner of the race in 1975 and 1976, and someone associated with Ferrari, McLaren and latterly Mercedes, of whom he was part-owner of the team, and a constant presence in the pit lane, garage and back rooms of the sport.

Here are the grid positions.