Hamilton realistic ahead of Monaco GP

Hamilton has taken Formula One by storm, becoming the youngest championship leader in history after scoring three consecutive seconds places to follow on from his third position in his maiden race in Australia.

The Briton, a winner at Monaco twice in the F3 Euro Series in 2005 and in last year's GP2 race, says he will be going for his fourth straight victory at the principality, but the McLaren driver has warned he is not forgetting it will be only his fifth Grand Prix.

"I have always run well at Monaco, having won there on my previous two visits to the race," Hamilton said in a team preview. "I am going to the race again this year with the intention of fighting for the win, but that is the case at everything I compete in.

"However we do have to keep being realistic, this will be my fifth race in Formula One and I am still developing. We have to focus on keeping scoring points for both the constructors' and drivers' championships and take it step by step."

Teammate Fernando Alonso, two points behind Hamilton in the standings, is also aiming to win this weekend's race following a disappointing result at his home Spanish Grand Prix.

"Monaco is another of those races that, at the start of the year, you mark as one that you really want to win," said Alonso. "I took the victory at the Grand Prix last year, and although it was an emotional weekend, it was an amazing feeling, one that I will race hard to try and repeat again this season with Mercedes.

"I have not had the results I have wanted at the previous two races, however I have kept scoring good points and we have continued to develop the performance of the car.

"At Monaco you have to really keep your concentration at all times and push to the limit. It is very easy for things to go wrong at this track because it is very narrow and the barriers are very close, and this is why you have to stay focused."