Track temperature was a warm 40 degrees and climbing this afternoon as the drivers took to the grid in preparation for this afternoon's race. David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher line up side by side on the front row to lead the field around for the formation lap. Disaster for David as he stalls the McLaren and the Scot is now forced to start the event from the back of the grid. The lights go out and it's go in Monaco!

Michael Schumacher takes to the lead, closely followed by Mika Hakkinen. No problems getting away from the line today, however Nick Heidfeld hits the railing at Portier. Barrichello is in third place followed by Ralf Schumacher. Meanwhile, the second Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya has made his way up to fifth. By lap two Michael has already pulled out a one second lead over Hakkinen while David Coulthard is at the end of the field, desperately trying to carve his way back up.

Montoya's Monaco Grand Prix is over! The Colombian lost the rear of his Williams on the exit at Piscine and hit the railing. Coulthard is now up to 18th as Luciano Burti comes into the pitlane. Schumacher's lead is up to 2.6 seconds by lap five, the Ferrari ace almost half a second a lap quicker than the Finn. Hakkinen responds and sets the fastest lap of the race with a 1:22.769, while his teammate is fighting to get past the Arrows of Jos Verstappen.

Verstappen passes his teammate, leaving Coulthard to do the same as Hakkinen sets another fastest lap and reduces the gap to Schumacher down to 1.6 seconds, but the German responds and adds another two tenths back on his lead. Meanwhile, Giancarlo Fisichella is going strong, the Benetton driver now in eighth place after Coulthard was sent to the back of the grid and Montoya retired.

Michael Schumacher appears to have something flapping about on his front wing that looks like tape. There is also something on the circuit, as on lap 12 Olivier Panis pits. The BAR team aren't ready for the Frenchman and Mika Hakkinen slows, losing eight seconds and second place to Rubens Barrichello. The Finn pits the next time round and the crew check his suspension. Everything seems okay and he returns to the track in seventeenth behind his teammate as Panis comes in again!

Jos Verstappen is on a charge and he passes the Benetton of Jenson Button. However the young Englishman fights back and reclaims the position. Panis eventually retires, as does the Sauber of Kimi Raikkonen who had also come into the pits. Both Saubers are now out of the race. Mika Hakkinen returns to the pits and retires his MP4- 16.

Jos Verstappen finally makes his move on Button stick, the Dutchman now in eleventh. Top six on lap 17, Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Ralf Schumacher, Eddie Irvine, Jarno Trulli and Jacques Villeneuve. Coulthard is desperately trying to get around Bernoldi and McLarens hopes of securing points are resting firmly on his shoulders, but at this stage, they don't look very good. The Scot is the next man on Michael Schumacher's list to lap. Kimi Raikkonen returns to the circuit, the Finn four laps down. For some unknown reason, the Marshalls wave the blue flag at Bernoldi, however Coulthard remains behind. Pedro de la Rosa retires his Jaguar as the Marshalls once again wave the blue flag at the Arrows. They must think Coulthard is attempting to put a lap on the Brazilian!

Lap 22 and Michael Schumacher leads his teammate by 11.6 seconds who in turn leads Ralf Schumacher by 10.6 seconds. Irvine is close behind Ralf, the Irishman desperately wanting to get into a podium scoring place. Bernoldi continues to hold back the charging David Coulthard as Michael Schumacher comes up to put a lap on the Scot. Luciano Burti retires as Coulthard has another go at Bernoldi at Mirabeau, almost losing it in the process. The Scot pulls over to let Schumacher lap him and the German goes around Bernoldi at the same time.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who is in ninth place, sets the fastest lap of the race with a 1:21.397. Meanwhile, Jarno Trulli is forced to retire from his fifth place, flames coming from the back of his EJ11. Giancarlo Fisichella now moves up into the points, the Benetton driver in sixth place and only seven tenths behind fifth placed Villeneuve. Lap 33 and the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello laps David Coulthard, the Scot still unable to get past the Arrows in front of him. Only 15 remain and only ten on the lead lap, the next man in Michael Schumacher's sights, Jenson Button.

Unfortunately Giancarlo Fisichella, who has such a good record here, hits the barrier at Ste Devote, however he manages to keep it going and keep the Prost of Jean Alesi behind him. The Frenchman is gunning to score the team's first points here this afternoon and they are so close he can taste them! Ralf Schumacher is the next man to lap David Coulthard as the Scot continues to struggle behind Bernoldi.

Lap 39, halfway there and Schumacher sets a new fastest lap of 1:20.770. Eddie Irvine must be feeling good as he too puts a lap on the sole remaining McLaren. Michael Schumacher sets another fastest lap of 1:20.422, extending his lead over Barrichello to 18.3 seconds. Jos Verstappen pits and there are problems for the Dutchman, the problem is quickly rectified and then he stalls the A22 before getting back on his way. Giancarlo Fisichella hits the barrier in Ste Devote again, however he doesn't escape this time and the Benetton driver retires.

Alesi moves into the points, however he has the Jordan of Heinz- Harald Frentzen only a second behind him. Bernoldi finally pits and David Coulthard is released to try and reclaim some lost pride from this event. The Scot is in tenth and sets his sights on the ninth placed Minardi of Fernando Alonso. He sets the fastest lap of the race with a 1:20.253 as he begins his charge. Alonso is lapped by fifth placed Villeneuve and Coulthard gets through at the same time. Jenson Button is next on the list as Michael Schumacher sets a new fastest lap.

Alonso pits as does Jenson Button. Heinz-Harald Frentzen hits the barriers coming out of the tunnel, ending Jordan's day. Another disappointing race for the Honda powered outfit. Yellow flags are flying, the German hitting the barrier at roughly 280 km/h, but thankfully he is uninjured. Coulthard is now in seventh, but he has yet to pit. Alesi comes in from sixth and retains his position after a 9.1 second stop.

Lap 55 and Michael Schumacher is the next to pit, the German in and out in seven seconds. Rubens Barrichello leads, but it won't be for long, as the Brazilian needs to complete his first and only stop. Fernando Alonso retires and Jacques Villeneuve pits, leaving only Barrichello, Irvine, Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard to complete their pitstops.

Ralf Schumacher appears to have a problem and he pulls into the pits. Eddie Irvine goes through for third place, as the Williams driver retires. With only nineteen laps remaining Barrichello leads, followed by Michael Schumacher, Eddie Irvine, Jacques Villeneuve, Jean Alesi and David Coulthard. Barrichello pits and Schumacher reclaims the lead. Eddie Irvine comes in, a good clean stop and the Irishman retains his potential podium position. Tarso Marques retires his Minardi, joining the other eleven drivers that have ended their Monaco GP prematurely.

Lap 62 and Coulthard still has not pitted! Surely he has to come in soon. Button is just over 13 seconds behind the Scot, so he will lose the position when he finally pits. The Scot is a lot faster than the Benetton driver and soon extends the gap to 21 seconds. Lap 66 and the McLaren finally pits, 6.6 seconds and David comes out in front of Button, holding dear to the one point he could salvage from today's disaster.

On fresh tyres, Coulthard sets the fastest lap of the race with a 1:19.617 then again with a 1:19.424! He is on a charge to turn that one point into two, but he doesn't have to try too hard as Alesi comes in for a late stop and rejoins the circuit behind the McLaren. Three laps remain and the top six look to be determined. Villeneuve closes on Irvine, but to no avail. The Ferrari's cross the line first and second and Eddie Irvine takes Jaguars first points of the season along with their first ever podium finish!

The top six from today's Monaco Grand Prix were Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Eddie Irvine, Jacques Villeneuve, David Coulthard and Jean Alesi.