Monaco Grand Prix LIVE: Lewis Hamilton dedicates win to Niki Lauda after thrilling Max Verstappen battle

Re-live the latest from the sixth Grand Prix of the 2019 season

Formula One star Niki Lauda dies aged 70

Lewis Hamilton took his fourth victory of the season and his third on the streets of Monaco after a thrilling battle with Red Bull's Max Verstappen, extending his championship lead over Valtteri Bottas in the process.

Despite leading from pole position, an early safety car caused by Charles Leclerc's puncture leaving debris across the track after he hit the wall changed the complexion of the race, with Hamilton needing to nurse his tyres to the end against the attacking Verstappen - the Red Bull youngster needing to pass the leader and build a gap after receiving a five-second penalty for hitting Bottas in the pits.

But Hamilton was able to see the victory home, even after contact with Hamilton two laps from the finish, to take his fourth victory of the season. As a result of Verstappen's penalty, Sebastian Vettel finished second with Bottas third. Re-live the drama below.

What time does it start?

The Monaco Grand Prix starts at 2:10pm on Sunday 26 May.

Where can I watch it?

The race will be shown live on Sky Sports F1 from 12:30pm. Highlights will be shown on Channel 4 at 7pm.

Starting grid

1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1min 10.166secs

2 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:10.252

3 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:10.641

4 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:10.947

5 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Red Bull 1:11.041

6 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:11.109

7 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:11.218

8 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:11.271

9 Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:11.417

10 Alexander Albon (Tha) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:11.653

11 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:11.670

12 Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:11.724

13 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:12.027

14 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:12.115

15 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:12.149

16 Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1:12.233

17 Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:12.846

18 Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:12.185 + three-place grid penalty

19 George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:13.477

20 Robert Kubica (Pol) Williams 1:13.751

Key Points

• Lewis Hamilton wins the Monaco Grand Prix
• Hamilton leads from pole position ahead of Verstappen
• Leclerc crashes trying to overtake Hulkenberg to cause safety car
• Verstappen given a five-second time penalty for hitting Bottas in the pits
• Mercedes and F1 to remember Niki Lauda after his death, aged 70

[26 May 2019 11:46 · Jack de Menezes]

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton starts from pole position in his attempt to claim a third victory in Monte Carlo.

With lights out scheduled for 2:10pm BST, we'll begin our full coverage and build-up from 1pm.

[26 May 2019 13:08 · Jack de Menezes]

We're a little over an hour from the start of the Grand Prix, so it's the perfect opportunity to look back at a rather dramatic qualifying session on Saturday that led to further anguish for the Ferrari team.

At his home grand prix, Charles Leclerc found himself eliminated in Q1 when the team decided not to send him out for a second run. Having qualified 16th, Leclerc faces an almighty struggle this afternoon on the notoriously difficult Monte Carlo circuit, even though he's moved up to 15th via a three-place grid penalty for Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi.

Once again, the Mercedes' were in a class of their own out in front. Valtteri Bottas looked on course for a fourth consecutive pole, only for Lewis Hamilton to snatch top spot away with his final lap.

Here's how the action unfolded:

[26 May 2019 13:12 · Jack de Menezes]

Of course, there is a shadow over the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend after the death of Niki Lauda on Monday night. The three-time F1 world champion passed away at the age of 70, surrounded by his family, but his death has left a hole in the F1 paddock that is being felt this weekend.

A number of tributes to Lauda have been taking place over the course of the weekend, with the FIA transporting memorabilia of Lauda's career down from the Hall of Fame in Paris and a messages written on all of the cars and drivers helmets.

However, even if there were no messages at all, Formula One will not forget Lauda in a hurry.

[26 May 2019 13:20 · Jack de Menezes]

To add to that, Lewis Hamilton has been speaking on the drivers' parade to Natalie Pinkham about what racing this weekend with Mercedes in Lauda's memory means to the team:

[26 May 2019 13:26 · Jack de Menezes]

Of course, it is not just the drivers who have been deeply affected by the loss of Lauda, as the Mercedes team have lost their friend and mentor - none more so than team boss Toto Wolff, who worked alongside the Austrian day by day and sat next to him at every race until his lung transplant last year.

[26 May 2019 13:34 · Jack de Menezes]

But as it always the case with F1, the show must go on and there is a race to be had this afternoon.

So with that in mind, the pits open and the Principality comes to life as the V6 turbos roar around the circuit, with the harbour-side track louder than any other venue on the calendar thanks to the tight buildings that surround the pits.

[26 May 2019 13:37 · Jack de Menezes]

If you find yourself with six minutes and 42 seconds to spare between now and lights out, take the time to watch this beautiful tribute from Sky Sports to Niki Lauda, featuring the likes of Toto Wolff, John Watson, Bernie Ecclestone, Sir Jackie Stewart and many other notable faces of F1, voiced superbly by Martin Brundle.

[26 May 2019 13:42 · Jack de Menezes]

Normally we take a look at the tyre strategy 30 minutes before the race begins, but take all of this with an asterisk next to it as the looming clouds over Monte Carlo could throw all of this out of the window (we'll bring you the latest on the forecast shortly):

Our friends at Pirelli believe that the fastest strategy is the one-stopper from the softs to the hards, with the alternative the softs to the mediums. However, while the two-stopper of soft-soft-hard would allow a much faster pace, it would require more overtaking at Monaco that is a constant problem and the low temperatures this afternoon would suggest that the one-stopper is the one to be on. 

[26 May 2019 13:48 · Jack de Menezes]

So let's take a look at that forecast. There's currently a 51 per cent chance of a shower hitting the track during the race, although the radar suggests that it doesn't look too bad if it does. 

[26 May 2019 13:53 · Jack de Menezes]

The grid is unsurprisingly jam-packed with A-listers, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Winnie Harlow and 'Salt Bae' all among those spotted already, as well F1 greats like Felipe Massa, Nico Rosberg, Alain Prost and Sir Jackie Stewart.