Daniel Ricciardo has finished fifth in the opening practice session at the Monaco Grand Prix, while Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has edged Sebastian Vettel to take the early honours.
Hamilton has arrived in Monte Carlo six points adrift of Vettel in the title race after the triple world champion's second victory of the season a fortnight ago in Spain.
The 2016 race winner Hamilton clocked one minute 13.425 seconds on the famous 3.337km street course in the principality, with Vettel on 1:13.621 and third-placed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen also not far off the pace in 1:13.771.
Australia's Ricciardo, who claimed pole position in last year's race, was 0.429 sec behind Hamilton.
Vettel and Hamilton have won two races each from the five GPs contested so far in the season, with Vettel six points ahead of Hamilton in the standings.
Former world champion Jenson Button finished 14th for McLaren, 1.5 seconds behind Hamilton, back to action for one race for the British team this weekend in place of Fernando Alonso, who is competing at the Indy500 race in Indianapolis.
A second qualifying was scheduled for later on Thursday, final practice and qualifying on Saturday, then Sunday's 78-lap race.
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