This is the view of a P9-finishing driver!

Well done, Alex. It's our first points of the season together at a place that's always been a challenge for us, but it's great to see your laps yesterday and just how you brought it home today. Well done. The start of our season is here.

Alex secures P9 after a faultless Monaco GP!

Alex just needs to complete one more lap of the track and he'll get his first 2024 points.

There's not long left...

There's a 0.4s gap to Tsunoda now with 8 laps to go. It's getting very tight out there.

Team radio between Tsunoda and the RB has the team telling him that he can start to push. Alex will need to work if he can advance further than this P9.

Tsunoda is trying to back you up so that we don't get a safety car pitstop window on Gasly.

ALEX: How is he? Is he stressed? PIT: Is Tsunoda stressed? He's just been asked to push. ALEX: He's very slow still.

Alex is really pushing Tsunoda now for P8. Could the RB make a mistake?

Tsunoda also gets lapped. Alex is closely tailing that P8 to remind the Japanese driver there's more pace in the FW46.

Hamilton and Verstappen pit into the gap in front of Tsunoda. They return to the track with hard tyres. No change for Alex, who is moving out of the way of the leaders lapping him.

This will be about four laps until we start to get the blue flags. We need to try and pre-empt some of that temp drop we're going to get.

Stroll has hit the barrier somewhere, but he has continued around the track meaning there is no Safety Car possibility. That error removes the threat of Stroll's fresh tyres closing in on the points-paying positions and getting close to Alex's P9.

ALEX: What's the gap behind? PIT: Gap behind to Gasly is 7s. He's managing on the medium. ALEX: Is he holding the whole train behind him? PIT: Currently not, behind Gasly has a 10-second gap to race leader Leclerc. ALEX: Let me know when Charles is about three laps away from me.

It's a little cat and mouse out there. Alex closed the gap to regain DRS, showing he has more pace, and then is back to 2.7s behind. Still P9.

Alex is closing in again, sitting 2s behind Tsunoda now. Stroll, however, has pitted after Alonso fell behind while being lapped and has a fresh set of hard tyres in P11.

Alex has fallen away from Tsunoda's rear wing and sits 4s behind. He's safe from Gasly in P10, whois 5s adrift. It seems like a deliberate decision as Albono and Tsunoda are putting in very similar lap times.

Halfway point of the race and it's P9 for Albono. The sun is shining, and it's all calm out there for the moment.

ALEX: What's going on behind me? PIT: It's eight seconds back to Gasly and Stroll. They're on the medium. They don't need to pit again, but they're on the medium.

Alex let the gap open to Tsunoda a little bit but has closed in again. He's 0.5s behind, but can't find a way past, and remains in P9.

It's all the same out there now, although Norris and Ricciardo have complained about front left abrasion on the hard compound. Tsunoda, however, has fallen far enough behind the two Mercedes and Verstappen, essentially giving those three a free pit stop. Alex remains P9.

ALEX: What's Yuki's team saying about him? Are they just telling him to drive slower and slower or is he struggling at all? PIT: There's no strategic comments gone through. They've asked him to reduce lift and coast. PIT: And it looks like they're happy to give the safety stop to the Mercs and Verstappen now.

Russell is in P5 and is the lead medium-tyre driver, now 13s behind P4. It's not yet clear what the Mercedes strategy is, but that's opened a gap from the front four. Tsunoda, meanwhile, is 9s behind Hamilton in P7, and Alex is keeping close behind.

So, 58 laps to go. We're happy with tyres at the moment.

Alex remains steady in P9. At the back, Bottas pits onto hard tyres and starts setting fast laps. Most runners are driving in the 1:20s, while Bottas just set a 1:16.561... We're in tyre management mode in Monaco.

So, technically, the two Mercs and Verstappen do not need to pit again, but they're all on the medium — there are 65 laps to go. The gap to George is P5 on the medium is only seven seconds ahead.

Alex is looking at the drivers ahead with that radio message, wondering why Hamilton in P7 is dropping back. Tsunoda is within DRS range but is 2.4s behind Hamilton, and Hamilton is 2.8s behind Verstappen...

What's the communication on Lewis? What's he saying?

No overtakes in the top 10 positions. Alex is the sixth-highest hard-tyre runner, and P9 overall.

Alex is keeping it close to Tsunoda for P8. Equally, Gasly is tailing Albono tightly, too.

Alex fended off both Alpines at the original start

Not that it helps much in Monte Carlo, but the FIA announced DRS is enabled.

No Lap 1 carnage this time. Alex remains in P9 and is chasing Tsunoda.

We've started the tour to resume the race. Alex is on hard tyres for the restart.

So it will be a standing start. Once we fire up and send you, the safety car will pull off to the side of the pit exit and it will just be a formation lap straight to the grid and then the start.

We will be back running at 15:44 local time.

Sainz, who fell to the back after a puncture, will start in P3 for the restart, meaning Alex will drop from P8 to P9.

The FIA has confirmed that there will be a standing restart whenever we get back to racing.

Settle in, everyone. The Perez-Haas crash has the Armco barriers looking worse for wear and they might need replaced or repaired.

The amount of damage in that crash was sizeable. It's great to see all three drivers walking back to the pit lane. Alex, meanwhile, is out of the car and awaiting a restart time.

This might be a long delay... Alex kept his P9 position in the opening metres and fended off an attack from Gasly at the hairpin. Sainz went off at Casino, letting Alex up into P8. Behind all of this, Perez, Hulkenberg, and Magnussen crash out in an incident that left debris all over the circuit.

A huge crash on the uphill run has stopped the race. Everyone is okay.

We are go in Monaco!

Alex will start his 78 tours of Monte Carlo on Pirelli's medium compound.

Okay, tyre-wise ahead of you is George, Verstappen, and Hamilton in P5-6-7 on the hard tyre. Ocon P11 on the hard tyre. Then a good string of hard tyre runners from P13 to P17.

Are you ready? We don't have long until we get started for the formation lap...

Look at those pearly whites!

The sun is shining above the principality as the drivers venture to the grid. We will bring you everything Alex Albon throughout this 78-lap race today.

That's it for today's coverage. Join us tomorrow to follow Alex's race in the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix!

Alex in action 🤩

Alex finishes Q3 in P9! A big effort from our No.23 to record his best starting grid position of the season.

No more running from Alex after that as he returns to the garage.

YES!!

It's a massive 1:10.984 for Albono slotting him in at P7! Just 0.530 off pole position...

Alex comes in for a quick pit to change softs and is straight back to business in Monaco.

A 1:11.805 on the board for Albono's first push lap of Q3.

First Q3 of 2024 👊

Alex is unable to set a faster time on his final flying lap but squeezes into Q3 at P10... First time in the third round of qualifying in 2024!

Come on!

Alex sets a 1:11.216 which is enough for P8... And there's enough time for one final push.

Just three cars ahead of you, all on out laps, so should be relatively clear.

Albono quickly heads back to the garage after posting a 1:11.607, which slots him in at P12. Five minutes remaining...

It's a 1:11.660 in Alex's first hot lap of Q2...

Back onto the track for Alex as Q2 begins.

Albono improves his time, setting a 1:11.623, and advances into Q2 in P6!

Alex sets a 1:11.753 to move up to P5.

Go, push!

Alex heads back to the pits for a quick change of softs with five minutes remaining in Q1...

Improvement on the first and second flying lap for Alex, posting a time of 1:12.478 which leaves him P14.

Alex sets a first time of 1:13.328, currently sitting in P10...

Albono rolls out of the pit lane and onto the Circuit de Monaco... Go time!

A final look at the numbers 👀

Welcome back to Monte Carlo! We are here with all your Alex updates with qualifying up next...

Alex can't quite find any more time during his final push and ends the session in P12. Plenty to analyse ahead of qualifying later today!

Albono rolls back out for his final laps of FP3...

As we enter the final 10 minutes, Albono sets a time of 1:12.180 to slot into P8 on the board.

Alex sets his best time of the day with a 1:12.668.

Alex returns to the track for some more laps with just 20 minutes to go till the end of FP3.

Back to the garage for Alex after climbing to P5 following a 1:12.788...

Improvement on the previous time for Albono, setting a 1:13.369 to go P7 for now.

Alex sets a first push lap time of 1:14.194 to get on the board...

Back underway and Albono heads onto track on softs...

Valtteri Bottas brushes the barriers and comes to a stop on track which sees the red flag.

It's a quiet start on track with Alex still in the garage for now...

And we are off! FP3 is underway at the Circuit de Monaco...

It's Quali Day in Monaco, but first it's the small matter of FP3. Follow along for live coverage of Alex's progress...

A mammoth 24 laps on this set of Pirelli rubber, split across two stints. Alex finishes the session in P9 thanks to a 1:12.257 from his soft tyre runs.

These long runs continue. Alex pitted onto used mediums and they've now toured the track 18 times. Team radio predicts six more laps before the chequered flag.

There aren't any quicker lap times out there. Alex is on used medium tyres to get more familiarity with the track in this car.

It's softs off and mediums on as Alex comes in for pit stop practice and a new set of rubber.

Alex has soft tyres equipped for more laps of Monaco.

Monte Carlo is a street circuit like no other

Into the pit lane for Alex. He's up on the jacks and is getting wheeled into the garage for some adjustments. 26 minutes remain.

These tyres seem to have multiple laps of life. Alex gets a 1:12.257 as others also improve. He's P8 as the times begin to tumble.

Alex's second lap on the softs resulted in a 1:12.327. He's P4 for now.

That's Albono's first push on the soft Pirelli compound and he's up to second place. 1:12.452 is his time.

Alex swaps his tyres for his first soft compound.

Go switch to go in.

A GPS issue had Alex in the way of Hulkenberg's Haas. The graphics show the stewards have noted the incident, but there's no further investigation necessary.

Incremental gains from Alex with a 1:13.901. He's getting the mileage in on these medium compound Pirelli tyres.

A 1:14.056 advances Alex up the standings. He continues to put in fast laps as the track speeds up.

It's a 1:14.807 for Alex on his first FP2 lap.

Still on plan to do the double push. Got Zhou at the last corner and Leclerc. Gasly is still six back.

It's medium tyres for Albono for his first stint.

It's a little overcast as FP2 edges nearer, but the rainfall isn't here. Some cars try to get to the end of the pit lane, though, as the threat of wet running remains.

FP2 begins in 60 minutes. Join us to see how Alex tackles his second hour of Monte Carlo track time.

That's one happy Alex

Monte Carlo is like nowhere else on the F1 calendar

Alex finishes up the first hour of Monaco running with a P15. He hasn't used any soft tyres, so that isn't entirely indicative of his pace. It's time to check the data and come back for FP2 in a little under two and a half hours.

The rain did fall, but briefly. Sun engulfed the circuit shortly after the green light came up.

Alex, with a hard compound tyre, comes up to start a fast lap but encounters many cars at the last corner. It's busy out there. Only two cars remain in the pit lane.

There are a few drops of drizzle as the rainclouds begin creeping over the circuit.

OK, you've got one minute to restart.

Zhou hits the barriers, and debris is on the track for the marshals to clean up. The red flag waves for the moment, just as the clock ticks past the 46-minute mark.

Alex gets close to the barriers around the Monaco harbour

That's nine laps on Alex's second tyre set and he returns to the pit lane. No quick turnaround pit stop this time; he's in the garage after a busy 37 minutes of driving.

That's a 1:13.425 as Alex puts more laps onto those medium Pirellis! Even more impressive, three of the five cars ahead of him have used soft tyres.

That's 1:13.975 on the medium tyres for Alex, who advances to P9.

Alex sets his fast lap then struggles to stop at T1. No damage to his car, and he returns to the track for more.

Only 10 cars are circulating right now as Alex settles in with his medium rubber. Alex continues putting in the laps, setting a 1:14.048 for P8.

Alex enters the pit lane for a quick pit stop onto the yellow-walled mediums.

Alex, we're thinking about taking off, pitting onto the medium. 10 cars on track. You're currently P9.

As others take to the run-off areas or struggle with mechanical issues, Alex concludes his 10th tour of the circuit. He's P8 at the moment with a 1:14.967.

Most drivers are running with the hardest tyre option and Alex's latest effort of 1:15.561 had him reach P10.

A 1:17.612 on Lap 2 becomes a 1:16.451 on Alex's third lap as all 20 drivers try to find out where the limit is.

Looking good for three in a row.

It's a 1:20.149 to start the Monaco proceedings. Not too representative, and Alex is already pushing on a second effort with quicker green sectors.

White-ringed hard compound Pirelli tyres equipped on Alex's car for his first laps around Monte Carlo in 2024.

It's dry out there for the moment, but team radio for Oscar Piastri suggests we might see some rainfall towards the end of FP1.

A lot of cars seem to want to get early laps in as the green light appears. It's a little bit of a traffic jam, but Alex isn't part of the queue just yet.

We're about to start the Monaco GP weekend. Get ready!

Alex said hi to the on-site fans earlier today

Look out for a different helmet in the cockpit this weekend!

Welcome to Monte Carlo for the Monaco GP. We'll guide you through everything Alex around the principality here. First up, FP1 in 30 minutes...