The Latest: Wrecks dominate 1st half of Monaco GP

The Latest: Wrecks dominate 1st half of Monaco GP

Published May. 29, 2016 10:19 a.m. ET

The Latest on motorsport's busiest day (all times local):

3:05 p.m.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen - who became the youngest winner of an F1 race at the Spanish GP two weeks ago - has crashed out of the Formula One race in Monaco.

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On a day with slippery conditions on the track, the 18-year-old slammed into a barrier at the same point where he crashed in Saturday's third and final practice.

He is the fourth driver to crash out on a chaotic day: Russian driver Daniil Kvyat got into the turn at La Rascasse, taking Kevin Magnussen into the barriers with him.

Kvyat, who has twice been blamed for racing incidents with Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel this season, went out of the race, while Magnussen carried on a lap behind.

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen and British driver Jolyon Palmer - Magnussen's teammate at Renault - both crashed earlier.

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2:30 p.m.

After seven laps behind a safety car, British driver Jolyon Palmer crashed out and was soon joined back in the garage by Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen.

Raikkonen lost control of his car after breaking too late going into a hairpin, locked his wheels and slammed into the barrier.

He tried to continue but almost caused another collision, with French driver having to brake sharply to avoid smashing into the back of him.

''What's Kimi doing?'' screeched Grosjean.

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2:20 p.m.

The Monaco Grand Prix has got off to a difficult start - and they haven't even started racing yet.

On a soaking wet track, with spray streaming off the tires, drivers did seven laps behind a safety car as a precautionary measure.

This was not to defending F1 champion Lewis Hamilton's liking, who after four laps said over team radio that ''visibility is as good as it's going to get. We should just start the race.''

Then, just as drivers had been called in to get ready to start the race, the race was held up again when British driver Jolyon Palmer's car skidded and crashed into the barriers, with both his front wheels on his Renault mangled.

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1:45 p.m.

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is in pensive mood at the Monaco Grand Prix - and with good reason.

The three-time world champion has not won any of the past eight races, while his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg has won seven of them to take a commanding lead in this year's F1 title race.

As he waited for the driver's pre-race parade to start, Hamilton looked in contemplative mood as he leant against a railing with his headphones on and a hot drink in his hand.

Rain fell heavily all morning and briefly abated before returning just before the start of the race, with drivers huddling under umbrellas.

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1:25 p.m.

The Monaco Grand Prix traditionally sees an influx of movie stars from nearby Cannes, where the famous film festival is held.

This year, the events are a week apart and there's a notable absence of big names so far.

However, actor Patrick Dempsey - a long-time star of ''Grey's Anatomy'' and a huge motorsport fan - is in the paddock.

The 50-year-old American has been chatting with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and Frenchman Romain Grosjean - who drives for the American-based Haas team - before the race.

There is more of a sporting flavor than a Hollywood theme, with basketball stars Chris Bosh (Miami Heat) and Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach all present.

Bosh, pictured on his twitter feed wearing a Mercedes cap, has expressed his support for Lewis Hamilton.

Arsenal soccer star Theo Walcott and Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki are also here.

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1 p.m.

The Monaco Grand Prix is all glitz, glamour, blue skies and luxury yachts swaying on the glittering blue Mediterranean sea, right?

That's often the case, but it has been raining all morning in the Principality and fans have been huddling under umbrellas.

With one hour to go before the race, the rain has at least stopped - which might not be good news for Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.

After finishing third in Saturday's qualifying, Hamilton wrote off his chances of winning - because it's so hard to overtake on the tight and sinewy street circuit - and joked that he would need a downpour to make the race more unpredictable.

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