Formula One: Hamilton is a street ahead in driving to Monaco win

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), May 26, 2008

LEWIS HAMILTON realised a boyhood dream with a Monaco Grand Prix victory likely to remain the highlight of his career.

Not even a slide into the barrier on a wet Monte Carlo circuit and resultant puncture on lap six could deter the Briton from a win which elevated him back into the lead of the world title race.

Hamilton has now won three races in four seasons on the famed streets of the principality after previously winning in Formula Three and GP2.

He also joins an exclusive club, becoming only the fifth Briton in the 59 years of the Formula One world championship to win in Monaco.

Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Sir Jackie Stewart and David Coulthard have all previously won the world's most famous motor sport event.

Now the 23-year-old can add his name to the illustrious list, with his win so impressive after he started from third on the grid before overcoming the early setback with relative ease.

Hamilton said: "This is the highlight of my career, and I am sure it will be the highlight for the rest of my life.

"To win here is an incredible feeling. It is very emotional.

"Towards the end, I was just trying to keep the emotions in, keep calm on the track and saying to myself'I can do it, I can do it, I can do it!

"I just told myself not to put it in the wall. No more safety cars, just bring it home'.

"On the in-lap I was screaming my head off. I was just so happy."

On the in-lap when he was screaming his head off, he sustained a puncture that could have cost him victory had it occurred a few laps from the end.

He added: "The wet was tough, so tough, and when I hit the wall I couldn't believe it.

"The team did an even better job than they always do and, even though I touched the barrier, I think I did a better job than I have done in the past.

"It was the most fun I have had in a race - ever!"

With Robert Kubica second for BMW Sauber and Ferrari's Felipe Massa third after starting on pole, just six points separate the top four in the championship.

RACE RESULT: 1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) McLaren, 2 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber, 3 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari, 4 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull, 5 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Scuderia Toro Rosso, 6 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Honda, 7 Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams, 8 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren, 9 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari, 10 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault.

LATEST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: 1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) McLaren 38pts, 2 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 35,3 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 34, 4 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 32, 5 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 20, 6 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren 15, 7 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 15, 8 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 9.

MANUFACTURERS: 1 Ferrari 69pts, 2 McLaren 53, 3 BMW Sauber 52, 4 Red Bull 15, 5 Williams 15, 6 Renault 9, 7 Toyota 9, 8 Scuderia Toro Rosso 6, 9 Honda 6.

CAPTION(S):

LOVELY BUBBLY: Lewis Hamilton is showered with champagne after claiming victory in an eventful Monaco Grand Prix to go back to the top of the world drivers' standings