Lewis Hamilton losing sleep at Monaco Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc raises concerns

confessed to feeling nervous and excited ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, with sleepless nights due to his eagerness to see what's in store on the prestigious circuit. The 40-year-old Brit touched down in Monte Carlo after achieving his best result yet with at Imola, still chasing an elusive podium finish for the Italian team.

He expressed his awe at being part of the Ferrari team, particularly at such a historic venue, revealing: "To arrive here in a Ferrari is mad. Every weekend still is my first time with this team in all these locations that we go to, but to drive a Ferrari around this track... I've always wondered what it's like to be in the garage surrounded by red here, and I'm going to get to experience that. I don't know if I'll sleep tonight, I'm really, really buzzing and really excited."

Despite not yet clinching a podium in Ferrari red, Hamilton remains optimistic, remarking on his recent race: "We've definitely taken on the positives from it. There's still a lot to digest - it's only been a few days, obviously.

"I was on the simulator on Monday [working] on correlation and working with the engineers through the week. I hope we can have a good weekend. It's a much different track... Ferrari have generally gone well here [in the past] but as you know, qualifying is everything and we've struggled so far this year, so we'll see.

"I've never driven this car at this track, so that will be new for me, it's a new characteristic to what I've experienced in the past, but it's exciting to drive for the first time a Ferrari around these streets of Monte Carlo."

Ferrari sparked a Monaco party last year when home hero finally won this race, but the 27-year-old admits his chances of repeating that feat are "low". He said: "Unfortunately, our car hasn't been particularly strong in low-speed corners and there's only low-speed corners here.

"So on paper, it doesn't look like the most promising track for us. But in Monaco, it's also so unique and so different than anything we race on over the season that we can have also a good surprise once we put the car down tomorrow, which I hope will happen.

"And if it does, then I hope to be there on Saturday, because obviously qualifying will remain the most important part of the weekend. But on paper, it's going to be a tough one."

Ferrari are currently fourth in the constructors' championship as they head into the Monaco weekend, trailing Red Bull by 17 points. Mercedes are a further 16 points ahead, while McLaren, the runaway leaders, have already established a substantial lead of 132 points over the Silver Arrows.