Hamilton says victory a career highlight

Lewis Hamilton said winning Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix will be the highlight of his career for the rest of his life

The Briton survived a chaotic race to clinch a dream victory and also to move into the championship lead after the first six grands prix of the season.

Hamilton admitted he was thinking of his hero Ayrton Senna, who won at the principality a record six times.

"This has got to be the highlight of my career and I am sure it will be the highlight for the rest of my life," admitted a delighted Hamilton.

"I was thinking in the last few laps Ayrton (Senna) won here and to win here is amazing. I have to say a big thank you to the team here and back home. Plus my family and friends."

The McLaren driver recovered from a brush with the wall early in the race to beat BMW's Robert Kubica and Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Hamilton was forced to pit to replace a damaged tyre, but the Briton was so far ahead that he returned to the track in fourth.

"I was able to get a good start," he said. "I felt comfortable at the beginning and had a good car and knew I could challenge Felipe but I couldn't' see anything and so I stayed in second as rain came down because there was so much spray I couldn't see any more and through Tabac there was a river coming across.

"As I was catching him I oversteered and steered into the barrier. I know I just touched it but I had a puncture, but I was able to tell team and they could react as quick as possible. They did a fantastic job."

Hamilton's gap was erased with a late safety car period, but the McLaren driver claimed he had plenty of speed in store.

"When the weather is like this, when it starts to rain and starts to dry, it's important thing to keep the car on track. It is difficult, as you are aquaplaning all the time. Fortunately we changed the strategy and it worked into my hands. The pace I had was ridiculous.

"I had one second on people for the majority of the race so it was quite easy. I was comfortable with that pace and asked if I could go quicker but they said no. So I had 40 seconds and then safety car came in."

Hamilton now leads the championship by three points from Kimi Raikkonen and four from Massa.