Lew is diamond geezer

In the excessive environs of Monaco, Lewis Hamilton should not look out of place sporting a diamond encrusted No1 on his McLaren helmet this weekend.

The reigning world champion admits the special addition to his attire is for F1's most special race – through the streets of the wealthy Principality to the paddock on the harbour front.

However, Hamilton's title defence is in danger of sinking without a trace. Brawn-GP have raced to the top of both the Drivers' and Constructors' championships, with Jenson Button 32 points better off than his fellow Brit going into the sixth grand prix of the season.

McLaren are not faring any better, 45 points adrift of Brawn with a car that is far inferior to the championship-winning model that pushed Ferrari all the way last season. Hamilton said he "drove the heart out of the car" at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona two weeks ago, but could still only manage a lowly ninth.

Yet he returns to his favourite race tomorrow in slightly more expectant mood. The 24-year-old, the sport's youngest ever world champion, triumphed on the streets of Monte Carlo last year, finishing three seconds ahead of BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica.

Having started third on the grid in 2008, a heavier fuel load allowed Hamilton to utilise a longer second stint on the road and the driver illustrated his prodigious driving talents by holding off Kubica and Ferrari's Felipe Massa to claim first place.

Because of his car's current deficiencies, tomorrow represents a different challenge, but Hamilton set the second and third-fastest laps during Thursday's practice sessions and will take heart from that.

The streets of Monte Carlo offer an advantage to McLaren – the British team have won a record 15 races there – whose MP4/24 will get the best from the circuit's abundance of low-speed corners. Hamilton's aggressive driving style should suit too.

So the world champion resumes the battle to keep his title defence alive tomorrow afternoon. Rest assured he would quickly swap his trophy helmet for the trinket that comes with first place.

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