Alonso shines brightest in Monaco
Fernando Alonso shone in the sunshine as Formula One's travelling circus set up its stall for its blue riband event.
The Monaco Grand Prix is unique on the calendar as practice always takes place on a Thursday rather than Friday, and it was Ferrari star Alonso who took advantage of the unexpected conditions.
Alonso, three points behind championship leader Jenson Button after his fortuitous second place in the Spanish Grand Prix four days ago, shaved a close opening 90-minute session at the principality with a lap of one minute 15.927 seconds.
Alonso pipped Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel by 0.073secs as the 22-year-old German stopped the clock on his best lap at exactly 76 seconds, with Renault's Robert Kubica in close attendance just a further 0.016secs adrift.
In a strong, and potentially ominous run for Red Bull, who have been on pole in all five grands prix this season, Barcelona race winner Mark Webber was fourth quickest with a lap of 1:16.382, nearly half a second down on Alonso.
Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa gave Ferrari one of their strongest practice showings for a while as the Brazilian was fifth, followed by Michael Schumacher on one of his favourite hunting grounds.
The five-times winner of this race was 0.662secs adrift of Alonso in sixth, with McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button seventh and eighth, split by 0.045secs.
Force India's Adrian Sutil and Sebastien Buemi in his Toro Rosso completed the top 10, the duo the only other drivers to finish within a second of Alonso.
