Lewis Hamilton was this week riding the crest of a wave as the youngest driver to lead the world-championship rankings after his superb second place in the Spanish Grand Prix, held on May 13.
On Sunday, he could become the first in grand prix history to win through the streets of Monte Carlo on his first outing. The 22-year-old Briton believes he can add this achievement to his already glittering CV, and not without justification.
Hamilton has raced three times on that claustrophobic ribbon of tarmac laid out between intimidating and unyielding guard rails and has won on all three occasions.
In 2005 he drove his Formula Three Dallara-Mercedes to a brace of dominant victories in the grand-prix supporting events on the Saturday and Sunday of the big weekend, tightening his stranglehold on the Euro series points lead in the process.
Last year he dominated the GP2 race in his Dallara-Renault, another stride towards clinching his title success in this key feeder series supporting the Formula One championship cavalcade.
Few drivers have come close to winning at Monaco on their Formula One debut at this demanding venue.
In 1984 Ayrton Senna’s Toleman-Hart finished a close second behind Alain Prost’s McLaren-TAG after the rain-soaked race was flagged to a halt for safety reasons, and in 1965 Jackie Stewart was heading for a first-time victory when he spun his BRM on oil dropped by Lorenzo Bandini’s Ferrari on the tricky uphill Ste Devote right-hander.
”Yes, it’s certainly possible that Lewis can win if he goes well, leads and doesn’t make too many mistakes,” said Stewart.
”To be honest, if you assume that most leading drivers are capable of driving with high standards of precision, then winning at Monaco really isn’t that difficult because it’s not got too many fast corners and it’s all a bit graunchy.
”I had an easy win in 1966 and it even wasn’t too hard in 1971 when I had braking only on the front wheels. If I had any advice to give Lewis it would be to concentrate on controlling the potential error factor.
”He should also understand that there are a handful of places where you can really gain time by tackling them properly, most notably the tricky Massenet left-hander into Casino Square, which is one of the places where a lot of people make mistakes.”
Niki Lauda, who won at Monaco for Ferrari in 1975 and 1976, believes this race could be Hamilton’s defining moment. ”It’s brilliant to have a guy of his ability leading the world championship,” he said. ”If he qualifies well and keeps out of trouble, then he will have a good chance.
”It’s always very difficult to predict just what might happen at Monaco but I have to say it’s going to be really good watching just how good Lewis is in such conditions.”
McLaren’s pedigree will offer an added boost to Hamilton’s efforts. Since making their Formula One debut through the streets of the tiny principality in 1966, McLaren have claimed victory a record-breaking 13 times, most recently thanks to Kimi Raikkonen’s commanding success in 2005.
Ayrton Senna scored five of his all-time record six Monaco victories driving the team’s cars.
Perhaps the most telling endorsement of Hamilton’s potential was offered by Keke Rosberg, the 1982 world champion who won at Monaco in 1983 and whose son Nico, himself a Williams driver, spent four years as a kart-racing teammate to the British youngster.
”Of course Lewis can win at Monaco, why wouldn’t he?” said Rosberg. ”Lewis is a good street racer and, if the McLaren is the best car on the day, of course he will only have one driver to beat. Monaco is a totally different technical challenge. But I think this could be a really great grand prix weekend and I’ll really be looking forward to it, as I expect a lot of other people will too.” — Guardian News and Media Ltd 2007