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LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times GMT)To get involved use606or text us on 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide) with F1 before your message. (Not all contributions can be used. Messages will be charged at your standard operator rate.)
1013: Virgin Racing's Timo Glock flies down the escape road after missing the chicane at the end of the Tunnel. Alguersuari improves to a 1:18.526. Then it is Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher (1:18.743) and BMW Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi (1:18.836).
1011: And we have a time. Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari posts a 1:19.939.
Hammydigrassi Alguersuari on 606:"It's Monaco Baby. Today is gonna be exciting, 24 cars in qualifying and I expect at least one if not two big names to miss out on Q3."
1004: BBC pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz says Red Bull will be working on qualifying runs for the final 30 minutes of this third practice. The team are pretty confident they can do better than Alonso. No times posted as yet.
Lotus technical chief Mike Gascoyne on Twitter:"Session started, both drivers completed installation laps, everything OK."
1000: And we are off. The Renaults of Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov are the first out. I'm going for a Kubica win this weekend by the way, who's with me?
BBC Sport's Sarah Holt in Monaco: "As ever, third practice could provide final clues ahead of qualifying, which starts at 1300 UK time. Fernando Alonso topped Thursday's twin practice sessions for Ferrari and the Spaniard, a two-time winner in Monaco, is fairly confident about his chances of pole position given that Kimi Raikkonen managed to put last season's under-performing 2009 Ferrari on the front row. Jenson Button was the man in front of Raikkonen in 2009 for Brawn but now he's in a McLaren he says: 'Ferrari look very quick and I'm pretty sure Red Bull are hiding their pace. McLaren always produce a good car around Monaco. They've won 15 times around here so hopefully we can do well.' As for the Red Bulls, well, they've taken all five poles so far this season but the tight, low-speed corners of Monaco's streets provide a different challenge. But Mark Webber is typically chipper, saying: 'We've made progress in the low-speed stuff since last year. We saw indications of it in Singapore and Abu Dhabi and what we learned with the RB5 has rolled into the RB6. Saturday will be an exciting qualifying session for definite.'"
schnof on Twitter:For quali, Red Bull and McLaren, locking out the first two rows. Ferrari, Mercedes just behind, a Lotus in Q2, Q1?"
0955: We are getting pictures now from Monaco and, unsurprisingly, it looks gorgeous. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is sporting an outrageous pair of sunglasses, I could never get away with wearing those bad boys. Five minutes to go.
0947: Arequest was madeto alter qualifying in Monaco, splitting it to reduce the number of cars on the track. That request was rejected. Lotus driver Jarno Trulli dismissed the concerns saying: "For the fast cars it should be easy to get through." Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who set the pace in Thursday's two practice sessions, added: "Q1 is a time to be focused, to concentrate. Maybe we don't do a super lap, maybe we just need to be in the first 15 or 16 so we should be able to do that." Championship leaderJenson Buttonhas called for calm. "In qualifying we have to keep our heads on, stay relaxed and try our best to get through it. Getting angry in the session, which I am sure some people will do, is not the right thing." It should be tasty.
0943: So what will happen in qualifying today then? With three new teams and 24 cars on the track, there are concerns about the traffic around the tight streets of Monaco. Hispania's Bruno Senna was 5.71 seconds behind pole-sitter Mark Webber in qualifying for Spain last week and some are worried that the backmarkers could slow up the quicker cars. McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh said during the week that the difference in pace between the teams will make qualifying "very, very difficult", Lewis Hamilton said the race could be a "disaster" while Force India owner Vijay Mallya said qualifying could be a "lottery".
Kayla in Notts via text: "Morning Mark, looking forward to qualifying today. Hope there's not too many problems with how many cars will be on track. Hope Lewis wins tomorrow, he deserves it after last week!"
0937: If you were with us on Thursday you will have discovered that my colleagues here at BBC Towers have an appalling taste in music. Hopefully they'll be singing better songs today. Maybe you could suggest some tunes for them to whistle, or, if you want to stick with F1, your predictions for today's qualifying. Will there be absolute chaos with the slower cars holding up the big boys and who will claim pole? You can use606or text us on 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide) with F1 before your message. I'll be waiting for your call.
BBC Sport's Sarah Holt in Monaco: "Hello again. It's back to business in Monaco after Friday's day of rest for the Formula 1 drivers. The first vehicle nosed round Rascasse at seven-thirty this morning; a road sweeper clearing the track after last night's revelry. Monaco's street circuit is the only stop on the calendar where punters can raise a glass of 10 euro beer whilst standing on the tyres marks scorched earlier by F1's speed machines. Pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie's driver radar even spotted 2007 F1 world champion turned world rally driver Kimi Raikkonen walking the track last night in an all-white ensemble. The evening opening of the roads means the track is always changing - just like the weather. It's cool and cloudy ahead of third practice with what is described as 'a diminishing chance of showers' later."
0932: So here's the plan for today. Third and final practice is at 1000 BST with qualifying at 1300 BST. Coverage of practice is on the Red Button, at the top of this page and on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra from 0955 BST. Television coverage of qualifying with Jake Humphrey and the boys begins at 1210 BST on BBC One. Lovely.
0930: Hello you. After a day off enjoying the grand prix weekend atmosphere at various parties, gambling in the casinos and sailing around the harbour in luxury yachts*, F1's drivers return to their day job of driving cars, very fast, around the streets of Monaco.* That's what they all do on a rest day, right?
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
1013: Virgin Racing's Timo Glock flies down the escape road after missing the chicane at the end of the Tunnel. Alguersuari improves to a 1:18.526. Then it is Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher (1:18.743) and BMW Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi (1:18.836).
1011: And we have a time. Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari posts a 1:19.939.
Hammydigrassi Alguersuari on 606:"It's Monaco Baby. Today is gonna be exciting, 24 cars in qualifying and I expect at least one if not two big names to miss out on Q3."1004: BBC pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz says Red Bull will be working on qualifying runs for the final 30 minutes of this third practice. The team are pretty confident they can do better than Alonso. No times posted as yet.
Lotus technical chief Mike Gascoyne on Twitter:"Session started, both drivers completed installation laps, everything OK."1000: And we are off. The Renaults of Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov are the first out. I'm going for a Kubica win this weekend by the way, who's with me?
BBC Sport's Sarah Holt in Monaco: "As ever, third practice could provide final clues ahead of qualifying, which starts at 1300 UK time. Fernando Alonso topped Thursday's twin practice sessions for Ferrari and the Spaniard, a two-time winner in Monaco, is fairly confident about his chances of pole position given that Kimi Raikkonen managed to put last season's under-performing 2009 Ferrari on the front row. Jenson Button was the man in front of Raikkonen in 2009 for Brawn but now he's in a McLaren he says: 'Ferrari look very quick and I'm pretty sure Red Bull are hiding their pace. McLaren always produce a good car around Monaco. They've won 15 times around here so hopefully we can do well.' As for the Red Bulls, well, they've taken all five poles so far this season but the tight, low-speed corners of Monaco's streets provide a different challenge. But Mark Webber is typically chipper, saying: 'We've made progress in the low-speed stuff since last year. We saw indications of it in Singapore and Abu Dhabi and what we learned with the RB5 has rolled into the RB6. Saturday will be an exciting qualifying session for definite.'"
schnof on Twitter:For quali, Red Bull and McLaren, locking out the first two rows. Ferrari, Mercedes just behind, a Lotus in Q2, Q1?"0955: We are getting pictures now from Monaco and, unsurprisingly, it looks gorgeous. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is sporting an outrageous pair of sunglasses, I could never get away with wearing those bad boys. Five minutes to go.
0947: Arequest was madeto alter qualifying in Monaco, splitting it to reduce the number of cars on the track. That request was rejected. Lotus driver Jarno Trulli dismissed the concerns saying: "For the fast cars it should be easy to get through." Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who set the pace in Thursday's two practice sessions, added: "Q1 is a time to be focused, to concentrate. Maybe we don't do a super lap, maybe we just need to be in the first 15 or 16 so we should be able to do that." Championship leaderJenson Buttonhas called for calm. "In qualifying we have to keep our heads on, stay relaxed and try our best to get through it. Getting angry in the session, which I am sure some people will do, is not the right thing." It should be tasty.
0943: So what will happen in qualifying today then? With three new teams and 24 cars on the track, there are concerns about the traffic around the tight streets of Monaco. Hispania's Bruno Senna was 5.71 seconds behind pole-sitter Mark Webber in qualifying for Spain last week and some are worried that the backmarkers could slow up the quicker cars. McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh said during the week that the difference in pace between the teams will make qualifying "very, very difficult", Lewis Hamilton said the race could be a "disaster" while Force India owner Vijay Mallya said qualifying could be a "lottery".
Kayla in Notts via text: "Morning Mark, looking forward to qualifying today. Hope there's not too many problems with how many cars will be on track. Hope Lewis wins tomorrow, he deserves it after last week!" 0937: If you were with us on Thursday you will have discovered that my colleagues here at BBC Towers have an appalling taste in music. Hopefully they'll be singing better songs today. Maybe you could suggest some tunes for them to whistle, or, if you want to stick with F1, your predictions for today's qualifying. Will there be absolute chaos with the slower cars holding up the big boys and who will claim pole? You can use606or text us on 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide) with F1 before your message. I'll be waiting for your call.
BBC Sport's Sarah Holt in Monaco: "Hello again. It's back to business in Monaco after Friday's day of rest for the Formula 1 drivers. The first vehicle nosed round Rascasse at seven-thirty this morning; a road sweeper clearing the track after last night's revelry. Monaco's street circuit is the only stop on the calendar where punters can raise a glass of 10 euro beer whilst standing on the tyres marks scorched earlier by F1's speed machines. Pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie's driver radar even spotted 2007 F1 world champion turned world rally driver Kimi Raikkonen walking the track last night in an all-white ensemble. The evening opening of the roads means the track is always changing - just like the weather. It's cool and cloudy ahead of third practice with what is described as 'a diminishing chance of showers' later."
0932: So here's the plan for today. Third and final practice is at 1000 BST with qualifying at 1300 BST. Coverage of practice is on the Red Button, at the top of this page and on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra from 0955 BST. Television coverage of qualifying with Jake Humphrey and the boys begins at 1210 BST on BBC One. Lovely.
0930: Hello you. After a day off enjoying the grand prix weekend atmosphere at various parties, gambling in the casinos and sailing around the harbour in luxury yachts*, F1's drivers return to their day job of driving cars, very fast, around the streets of Monaco.* That's what they all do on a rest day, right?
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.