Cream always rises to the top – Hamilton wins

Triple Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton won his first race of the 2016 F1 World Championship in Monaco.

The Brit started the race in third and even the slightest chance of jumping anyone from the start was gone when the rain meant a start behind the safety car.

When the race eventually got underway Daniel Ricciardo in his Red Bull Racing pulled away from championship leader Nico Rosberg with ease.

Despite Rosberg driving the far superior car, the German had no confidence around the streets of the town where he resides in the rain.

Hamilton however was full of confidence and was all over his team-mate for numerous laps before Mercedes ordered Rosberg to pull over.

The team order released Hamilton and immediate he was ridiculously quick in comparison to his team-mate, sometimes pulling out 3 or 4 seconds per lap.

It however looked like a decision which was made too late as Ricciardo had established a good lead.

Hamilton however was able to make his wet tyres last and whilst Ricciardo switched from wets to intermediates, Hamilton clawed his way back into contention.

A dodgy pit-stop for Ricciardo with Red Bull Racing slow to bring out his tyres enabled Hamilton to jump Ricciardo for the lead and the eventual win.

‘I’ve had a lot of races, but personally this feels like the best ever – this feels like the one, in my heart, that I earned,’

‘It didn’t feel like a stroke of luck. I really ground out every inch of track, every ounce of grip, every bit of skill that I had in order to stay ahead of Daniel.

‘My 44th win, in Monaco, when I haven’t won in ages?it feels like the greatest blessing.’ Hamilton told formula1.com.

He continued: ‘I wasn’t necessarily the quickest, but when the track was drying, those are generally my preferred conditions.

‘I decided to stay out; I knew if I could eke them [his wet tyres] out just a bit longer I could do a one-stop and come straight out for slicks. That was my goal.

With Nico Rosberg continuing to struggle throughout the afternoon and eventually finishing seventh, Hamilton slashed the championship lead from 43-points to 24.