LEWIS FIRED UP FOR ‘HOME’ VICTORY
AFTER six years as a resident here, Lewis Hamilton knows the Monte Carlo circuit like his own driveway. But this weekend he wants to own it. The Englishman said: ‘The novelty never rubs off. I run around the circuit, I drive my car and ride my motorbike around it, and I still can’t believe we get to drive at 200mph around here.’ But, pausing to sip a can of his ownbrand energy drink, he admitted that even after two victories on the most iconic circuit in Formula One, he should have done even better. Looking forward to round six of his scrap with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, the Mercedes driver said: ‘It’s the one that always gets away from you. There’s been at least two, maybe three others that I should have won.’ Victory on Sunday will see Hamilton overtake Vettel at the top of the championship standings but after yesterday’s practice it won’t be easy. Vettel set a sizzling pace, becoming the first to break the 73sec barrier, and leads the field by half a second.