McLaren driver Jenson Button set a quick lap early in the second free practice session of the Monaco Grand Prix to top the timing sheets ahead of Romain Grosjean of Lotus and Felipe Massa of Ferrari.

Jenson Button, Mclaren. (Photo: WRi2)

In the morning session, Massa's teammate, Fernando Alonso, set the quickest time in his Ferrari F2012. Lotus' Romain Grosjean was second quickest ahead of Sergio Pérez in the Sauber, Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, Pastor Maldonado of Williams and Felipe Massa.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

The temporary street circuit was indeed slippery and dusty during this first session. Heikki Kovalainen's Caterham Renault engine let go through the tunnel, stopping the session.

The Caterham of Heikki Kovalainen. (Photo: WRi2)

Kimi Raikkonen of the Lotus team completed just one installation lap before deciding the Monaco-specific steering wasn't to his liking and decided to have it changed, wiping out the rest of his session.

Kimi Raikkonen's special helmet. (Photo: WRi2)

Rain threatened during the lunch break, so it was crucial to set a good time early before rain came. Jenson Button made the most of the dry conditions and set the fastest time. Fifteen minutes into the session, showers started.

Frenchman Grosjean again showed his good form by finishing second. The Ferrari duo of Massa and Alonso came after ahead of Maldonado, Nico Rosberg of Mercedes and Mark Webber in the best-placed Red Bull.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus. (Photo: WRi2)

Championship leader Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull was only 10th quickest, one spot ahead Hamilton. Kimi Raikkonen completed 23 laps in the afternoon and ranked 19th, 3.129 seconds slower than his teammate Grosjean.


Grand Prix of Monaco, free practice session 1*, Thursday morning May 23

1 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'16"265 - 22 laps
2 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'16"630 - 17
3 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'16"711 - 19
4 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/17-Mercedes) - 1'16"747 - 12
5 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'16"760 - 20
6 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'16"843 - 19
7 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'17"038 - 21
8 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'17"190 - 13
9 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'17"222 - 14
10 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'17"261 - 18
11 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'17"413 - 14
12 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'17"631 - 18
13 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'18"106 - 14
14 - Jean Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'18"209 - 25
15 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'18"252 - 28
16 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'18"302 - 16
17 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'18"617 - 20
18 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'19"036 - 20
19 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'19"341 - 16
20 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'20"838 - 26
21 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'20"895 - 18
22 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'21"638 - 9
23 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'22"423 - 15
24 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - no timed lap - 1

Grand Prix of Monaco, free practice session 2*, Thursday afternoon May 23

1 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'15"746 - 14 laps
2 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'16"138 - 17
3 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'16"602 - 19
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'16"661 - 21
5 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'16"820 - 18
6 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'17"021 - 13
7 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'17"148 - 21
8 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'17"153 - 20
9 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'17"293 - 9
10 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'17"303 - 19
11 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'17"375 - 17
12 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'17"395 - 19
13 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'17"655 - 18
14 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'17"800 - 23
15 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'18"251 - 22
16 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'18"440 - 23
17 - Jean Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'18"522 - 20
18 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'18"808 - 24
19 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'19"267 - 23
20 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'19"309 - 27
21 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'20"029 - 13
22 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'20"240 - 19
23 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'20"631 - 12
24 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'20"886 - 10

*Unofficial timing