Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton posted the fastest time in the first practice session at the Monaco Grand Prix on Thursday, with Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg second.

The British driver, who is aiming for his fifth straight win, clocked a time of 1 minute, 18.271 seconds. Rosberg finished .032 behind.

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo was third best, .235 behind, and again outperformed Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel — the four-time defending F1 champion.

Vettel was fifth fastest behind Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso.

British driver Max Chilton spun off in his Marussia car, while struggling German driver Adrian Sutil stalled his Sauber.

Hamilton, who was won 26 races and secured 35 pole positions in his career, has never started from pole in Monaco.

Rosberg, who secured his maiden Monaco GP win last year, trails Hamilton by three points after five races. The German driver won the season's opening race in Australia, where Hamilton retired with engine failure.