Hamilton dreaming of Monaco win

Lewis Hamilton heads into Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix spurred on by the dream of winning for a second time in the principality.

Hamilton will start from third on the grid, behind Mark Webber in his Red Bull and Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, as he chases his maiden victory in what has so far been a chaotic season.

Even today Michael Schumacher rolled back the years by qualifying with the fastest time.

However, the seven-times champion serves a five-place grid penalty for running into the back of Williams' Bruno Senna in Spain 13 days ago and will start sixth.

It leaves Hamilton in with a fighting chance of pushing Webber and Rosberg to the line over the 78 laps as he seeks the win he prizes above all others, as was the case when he triumphed in 2008.

Following what the 27-year-old described as "one of the toughest qualifying sessions I've experienced for some time", he added: "I'll give everything tomorrow to move up.

"I've had a good feeling about the weekend, but I've two great drivers in front of me who will make it as hard as possible for me to get by, but we'll do everything we can.

"We're not starting from pole, but we're as close as we can get, and anything can happen, so I'll keep my head down and if the win comes then that is going to be incredible.

"It's been a long time since I won a race - or at least it feels like a long time - but winning here is every driver's dream.

"Even though I've won here before, the dream to win here is greater than ever, and that will spur me on tomorrow.

"But I really don't know what's going to happen, so I'm going to keep fighting.

"I will try to keep it clean, keep it on the track and try to score as many points as possible."

Hamilton at least acknowledged Schumacher's performance, despite the 43-year-old's joy tempered by the penalty.

"Not bad for an old-timer," said Hamilton with a smile.

"I'm fortunate he has a penalty, so that puts me a little further ahead, so I'm very happy.

"But he has won here more than anyone, apart from Ayrton (Senna), and I'm sure he will still be very quick tomorrow."

As for team-mate Jenson Button, for the second successive race and first time since his wretched days with Honda at the end of 2008, the 32-year-old starts outside the top 10.

Qualifying 13th, Button moves up a place to 12th courtesy of a 10-place grid penalty to be served by Pastor Maldonado for causing a collision with Sauber's Sergio Perez in final practice.

An appreciably dejected Button said: "Monaco is about qualifying - that's just the way it is - but I didn't quite have the pace this afternoon, which is a problem.

"The car felt good this morning and we looked strong, but then we couldn't translate that performance when it mattered.

"It's strange because it's there at certain points, so I'm hoping our pace will be better in the race.

"But as we know it's very tricky to overtake here. The drivers around me are going to be on the same strategy so it's going to be tough, but as always we'll do our best.

"I've only finished in the points at Monaco three times before - in first, second and third positions. I hope I get another one of those tomorrow."