UK/FILE: MOTOR RACING - Formula one Lewis Hamilton says Monaco is one of his strongest races

Formula One's youngest championship leader, Lewis Hamilton is in a strong position to become the first rookie to win Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix Already Formula One's youngest championship leader, Lewis Hamilton is in a strong position to become the first rookie to win the most glamorous grand prix of them all in Monaco on Sunday (May 27). Many of the sport's greatest drivers retired without a victory in the Mediterranean principality, but the McLaren driver's first four races have been so impressive that few would be surprised if he celebrated a maiden win this weekend. The 22-year-old Briton, with four podiums in a row under his belt, has raced through the tight and twisting streets in the junior Formula Three and the GP2 support series and taken the chequered flag on all three occasions. After finishing runner-up to Ferrari's Felipe Massa for the second successive race in Spain this month, Hamilton warned the Brazilian that he would get him soon -- possibly even this weekend. McLaren have the best record of any team in Monaco, with 13 wins over the years compared to Ferrari's eight, and are confident they can rack up what would be their 150th win in Formula One. One mistake, over 78 laps on an often slippery ribbon of asphalt hemmed in by unforgiving barriers, can be disastrous at Monaco and rookies are more likely to get it wrong than anyone. But Hamilton has barely put a wheel out of line so far. He has also coped well with the hype but Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug already fears the clamour surrounding the youngster, with former champions like Niki Lauda arguing that the Briton could win the title in his debut year, is getting out of control. Hamilton is two points ahead of his team mate, double world champion Fernando Alonso, and the Spaniard will be determined to re-assert himself after being beaten by the Briton in his last two races. Although Alonso won in Monaco last year, one of his seven victories that season with Renault, it is not one of his favourite circuits. That 2006 victory remains his only appearance on the podium in five Monaco starts and Alonso knows as well as anyone that the race can become a lottery in the wet. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, triumphant in 2005 with McLaren and runner-up in 2003, has form in Monaco whereas Massa has yet to finish in the top three. The Finn is certainly hungry for success after retiring in Spain, leaving him eight points off Hamilton's lead, while Massa has set the pace with three poles in a row. Briton David Coulthard, a double Monaco winner, should also fancy his chances of a good result for Red Bull after taking third place in the billionaire's playground last year and securing his team's first points of the season in Spain. So too should BMW Sauber, with a fourth place in every race so far this year and hopeful of breaking Ferrari and McLaren's domination of the podium.

ITN Source | May 24, 2007

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