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Formula One driver Hamilton leads McLaren

AFP - Tuesday, May 13

ISTANBUL (AFP) - - Lewis Hamilton led a chorus of upbeat McLaren comments here Monday as the Anglo-German team made the most of their close scrap with dominant Ferrari in Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old Briton finished second behind Brazilian Felipe Massa, who reeled off his third successive Turkey win and Ferrari's fourth in a row this season.

But he and his team said they had reasons for optimism in the races ahead and stressed they would travel to Monte Carlo convinced they can challenge for victory again in the Monaco Grand Prix on May 25.

Hamilton who has won in Monaco in both Formula Three and GP2 said: "I love the track and the whole weekend is fantastic. After last year and with this car I am convinced we have a great chance this time."

Team chief Martin Whitmarsh said: "The really positive thing that comes from here is that we could clearly have beaten Ferrari. Lewis has come away from here having done a good, solid race in Spain, a strong race and now an extraordinary sprinting race here in Turkey.

"He's going to Monaco now, where I think we'll have a competitive car... we've worked pretty hard as I'm sure the others have done but it's a circuit that both of our divers like."

Hamilton was second to former team-mate Spaniard Fernando Alonso in Monaco last year in a race that revealed the gulf between them as McLaren used team orders to prevent the Briton challenging for victory.

This time, Hamilton has Finn Heikki Kovalainen as a team-mate and Whitmarsh suggested that he was also set for a win.

"I've never known him as disappointed as he was after this race,," he said.

"He really felt he could win this race and as the race panned out, I think he knows he could have won it. And it eluded him.

"He's absolutely right to be disappointed but on the other hand, he wouldn't be so disappointed if he hadn't done such a great job to put himself in that position.

"He put himself in a position to win a race and he will win races this year and in the future and he really deserves to - it is going to happen."

The Ferrari team meanwhile flew home assured of being on top of the world thanks to the efforts of the triumphant Massa and defending champion Kimi Raikkonen.

The Finn was careful not to be drawn into assessing his title chances but did say: "We are in a good position and anything can happen as it is such a long season. But I feel confident we are in good shape now."

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