Irvine sends out warning to McLaren duo

The early season championship leader was lying second behind team-mate Michael Schumacher until the McLarens duo snatched first and third and demoted him to fourth.

But the Ulsterman, who battled with understeer on the difficult street circuit, believes he and Schumacher can match their rivals pace in the race although making up places will be difficult with overtaking virtually impossible.

'We are much closer to our competitors and we are running at their pace,' said Irvine, the winner in Australia despite the fact that Ferrari were more than a second a lap slower than the McLaren's in Melbourne. 'I was losing time in the first section as I had a lot of understeer.

'I made a mistake on my penultimate lap but my last run was good - but not good enough.'

The Ulsterman, who is staying on his own million dollar boat in Monaco harbour, knows he faces a difficult challenge in the race.

'Usually I make very good starts, but on this circuit it is difficult to make up any places as the track is so narrow.'