Hamilton on Monaco: All about learning to walk before you run

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Lewis Hamilton will be gunning for his third win of the season next weekend in Monaco and also his third in the Principality.

The three-time world champion trails arch-rival Sebastian Vettel by just 6 points, and the showdown on the twisty streets of Monte-Carlo between the Ferrari and Mercedes drivers promises to be epic.

While there probably isn't a twist or bump in the road that Hamilton isn't acquainted with, he still puts in the hours of preparation, whether at the factory or on the Principality's streets.

"I've been doing this for a long time now," says Lewis.

"I spend a lot of time at the factory with the engineers to understand past races. Just the other night, I was driving around the track in my Smart car, visualising the circuit.

"It's not so easy, though, when there are lots of cars around!"

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But the Brit also insists it's all about peaking at the right moment, with a driver feeling his way into the weekend which starts early, on Thursday.

"The most important thing is that you have to learn to walk before you run," says Lewis.

"You have to build up to the pace so that, by the time you work up to that second run in Q3, you're at 100%."

Needless to say, this year's new-spec wider and faster cars provide another challenge for drivers to step up to.

"We have new cars this weekend which are wider and faster, so that's going to be a massive challenge," says Lewis.

"It's a circuit which is all about mental strength. You need to be sharp and clear. Experience counts here too - that helps massively in setting the car up.

"In trying to push the car as close as you can to the limit, it'll be a real test of your awareness of where the car is. I'm sure there will be some brushing of the barriers..."
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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.