Hamilton goes to the back of the grid

By Alan Baldwin

MONACO (Reuters) - Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton apologised to McLaren on Saturday after a qualifying crash left him last on the Monaco Grand Prix starting grid and wrecked any hope of him winning for the second year in a row.

"What can I say? I made a mistake and I hit the wall. There's not much more I can say," the 24-year-old told reporters, also effectively writing off any hope of a championship defence.

"I'm sorry for the team because they've done a great job this weekend. It looked like we had a shot at winning the race, but these things happen and we'll just have to work with it."

Hamilton qualified 16th but will start last because his damaged car required a gearbox change, incurring a five-place penalty. His compatriot Jenson Button, the championship leader, qualified on pole for Brawn GP.

The McLaren driver lost the back end of the car on the entrance to the Mirabeau hairpin and hit the tyre wall in the first part of qualifying.

With debris on the track, the session was halted briefly while Hamilton did not remove his distinctive yellow helmet -- with the number one inscribed in diamonds on the top -- as he made his way back to the pits.

TITLE DEFENCE

After a strong showing in Thursday's practice, Monaco was seen as Hamilton's best chance yet of getting back on to the podium after a miserable start to the season that has left him with just nine points from five races compared to Button's 41.