Lewis Hamilton is eagerly anticipating his second Monaco Grand Prix this coming weekend, even if he acknowledges it is the most ‘unpredictable' outing on the
Formula 1 calendar.
The McLaren-Mercedes star finished a frustrated second to then team-mate
Fernando Alonso around the winding, tortuous streets of the Principality last year, the normally PR-conscious Briton letting out an uncharacteristic post-race outburst that he was the number two in the team for being told to hold station behind the Spaniard, who ultimately pipped him to the chequered flag by just four seconds.
Hamilton does possess an impressive record around street circuits, however, with victory in the GP2 Series at Monaco in 2006 and triumphs at the similarly challenging Macau, Pau and the Norisring, the latter being the scene of his breakthrough F3 Euroseries success back in 2004. He is very much ready for the street fight, and clearly determined to avenge last year's ‘defeat'.
“Monaco, my favourite race,” the 23-year-old enthused. “You have the history all around – you can just feel it – and the atmosphere is fantastic. It is the grand prix that every driver wants to win.
“Being a street circuit it is very exciting to drive – there is no room for any error all weekend. You are on the limit the whole time; there are no long straights where you have a moment to think.
“It is so tight and narrow, and when you consider how quick you are driving it is unreal. To be quick you need to use every centimetre of the circuit; this even includes touching the barriers at some points.
“The set-up is quite a lot different. The primary requirement is fantastic traction, to ensure you can get out of the corners well. Because there are no straights, we put as much downforce as we can on the car as we don't need to – and aren't able to – reach the speeds of any other track.
