Monaco GP: Nico Rosberg leads way in first practice

Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes team justified their position as bookies’ favourites for the Monaco Grand Prix but it was the Briton’s team-mate Nico Rosberg who set the pace in today’s first practice.

Rosberg (above), first on the grid for the last two races in Spain and Bahrain, led the way from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso with Hamilton fifth fastest in the first of today’s two sessions.

The German posted a time of 1min, 16.195 seconds around the 3.340km circuit and, having failed to record a victory his season, Mercedes will be confident of breaking their duck on Sunday if Rosberg or Hamilton start on pole.

Race pace has been the team’s Achilles heel but pole position is always crucial in Monaco, given the difficulties in overtaking on the tight, barrier-lined circuit.

Reigning triple world champion and 2013 championship leader Sebastian Vettel was well down the standings in 10th place while his team-mate, Australian Mark Webber, was seventh.

Jenson Button guided his McLaren to eighth, Paul di Resta (Force India) was 12th and Max Chilton (Marussia) last in 22nd place, a full four seconds behind the leaders.