Rain check
Lewis prays for wet weather at Monaco GP
Lewis Hamilton reckons only the heavens opening above Monte Carlo can spare him a hellish day in the Monaco Grand Prix.
As home favourite Charles Leclerc romped to his third pole in as many races, Hamilton fell to eighth – two places behind Mercedes pal George Russell.
Hamilton’s brilliant comeback drive to fifth at the Spanish Grand Prix a week ago offered some hope he can return to the title mix.
But Hamilton, already 64 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen heading into today’s seventh round of 22, is poised to lose further ground on the impossible-to- overtake streets.
While the principality has bathed in sun, there is a strong chance rain could hit the race.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton said: “I am not doing any dancing but I do want it to rain so I am not just driving around in the dry in eighth.
“You cannot overtake so I am hoping the weather plays up and maybe we can do a different strategy.
“We were not very good in the low-speed corners at the last race so I anticipated it’d be difficult.
“But it’s worse than anticipated because it is super er bouncy. It would be e nice to have some luck k for once. I have been n having bad luck all l year so it is bound to o stop at some stage.”
His f inal remark k was in reference to a dramatic conclusion to qualifying, which saw the session red flagged with just half a minute left on the clock. Sergio Perez slid into the wall on the tunnel entrance and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz then went into the Mexican’s Red Bull.
Neither driver was injured but with their cars blocking the track, the session was halted. Hamilton was on a speedier lap at the time but it is unlikely he would have gazumped Russell. Ferrari driver Leclerc, born and raised here, delivered an almighty lap under pressure as SaSainz finished second. Leclerc said: “I knew ththe pace was in the car. I jujust had to do the job.” Sainz, 0.225 seconds bebehind Leclerc, said: “PPerez crashed in front of mme. I was on my flying laplap, I saw the yellow flaflag, I hit the brakes and tritried to avoid him the besbest I could.”