Hamilton sets pace in Monaco

By Alan Baldwin

MONACO (Reuters) - McLaren's Lewis Hamilton turned the tables on Ferrari with the fastest lap in Thursday's Monaco Grand Prix practice.

The 23-year-old, runner-up in the Mediterranean principality in a McLaren one-two last year, showed his mastery of the tight and twisty streets with an afternoon lap of one minute 15.140 seconds.

His friend and rival Nico Rosberg, also running on the softer tyres, was second quickest in a Williams.

Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen, seven points clear of Hamilton and his own Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa after five races, had set the pace in the morning with a time of 1:15.948. He was third in the afternoon.

Hamilton, wearing a specially-designed diamond-studded helmet for the most glamorous race of the season, was delighted with his day's work.

"I simply love Monaco and enjoy every single moment I get to spend on the track," he said. "The car felt great almost immediately and I was able to show a good pace from the very beginning."

Despite Ferrari having won four of the season's five races to date, McLaren are strongly fancied to win on Sunday at a circuit that has favoured them more than any team in recent years.

With blue skies and sunshine contrasting with forecasts of rain at the weekend, Hamilton was second quickest in the morning. His Finnish team mate Heikki Kovalainen was third and then fifth.