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Formula One

Hamilton eyes "dream" Monte Carlo victory

13/05/2008

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton has claimed winning the Monaco Grand Prix next weekend would fulfill one of his overriding Formula One dreams.

The F1 circus heads to the French principality of Monte Carlo next week in preparation for the most glamorous date on the calendar.

And Hamilton - who currently sits joint second with Felipe Massa in the drivers' standings, behind world champion Kimi Raikkonen – says the Monaco race is the one he is most looking forward to winning.

"Monaco is the dream Grand Prix to win, the most important race to win personally," the Briton explained.

"If I feel I can win anywhere, it is definitely Monaco, but you have to be in the right place at the right time.

"And it is difficult to know exactly how we will do at Monaco because there are so many differences to Istanbul."

Hamilton said after the Turkish Grand Prix that he believed it was his best performance since he joined F1 at the beginning of last season, despite finishing second to Massa's Ferrari.

But he believes the setup of the McLaren, which is more suited to the tight, twisting street circuits than the flat-out speed circuits, lends itself well to competing in Monte Carlo.

"I don't think we will have the dominance we had last year [when Fernando Alonso and Hamilton achieved a one-two finish] because the teams are much closer," he said.

"I think we can put together a better package, but it will be closer."

The Monaco Grand Prix weekend - round six of the 18-race season - kicks off with Friday practice on May 23rd, with the race on Sunday May 25th.