Jenson Button sets practice pace ahead of Monaco Grand Prix

Jenson Button was the quickest in Thursday's second practice session around the streets of Monaco, 10 places ahead of fellow McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton. Button said afterwards: "It's not a lot of running for a Thursday at Monaco. Hopefully Saturday will be a bit better." Showers dampened down the circuit as well as the times so it was the early runs that counted. Romain Grosjean of Lotus completed an impressive day by coming second. Behind them came the Ferrari pair of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, and they were followed by the Williams of Pastor Maldonado. But the double world champion and joint championship leader Sebastian Vettel could finish only 10th, one place ahead of where he had been in the morning. In the morning practice session Alonso was fastest, ahead of Grosjean and Sergio Pérez, who crashed here spectacularly a year ago. Behind them came Hamilton, winner here in his championship year of 2008, and the winner last time out, in Barcelona, Maldonado. Grosjean was top of the timings for about 20 minutes, before his time was bettered by Alonso. The session summed up Ferrari's season so far – Alonso mightily impressive, Massa, who grazed a barrier and was sixth, less so. After Alonso had improved on Grosjean's time the Frenchman responded to go top once more. This time he was knocked off his perch by Hamilton. Grosjean came back to go top once more, but in the end it was Alonso, who produced two quick laps near the end, who had the final say.