Haug says Hamilton not Monaco favorite

(GMM) Mercedes' Norbert Haug has played down suggestions mostly in the British press that team rookie Lewis Hamilton can this weekend win his maiden grand prix in Monte Carlo.

"I hope he wins a race before too long but it isn't right to describe him as favorite for Monaco," the competition director for McLaren's works engine partner is quoted as saying by Herts and Essex News Online.

22-year-old Hamilton, who leads the drivers' championship despite not winning a race so far in 2007, has an unbeaten record at Monaco after his previous visits in GP2 and F3 cars.

It has led to rising speculation that the glitzy Principality could be the scene of his debut F1 triumph, but in Thursday practice he was one of five drivers to crash.

Haug said of Hamilton's season so far: "He has been exceptional already to be second three times in a row. He has had fantastic races (in Monaco) in the past.

"He is a street racer. He likes those types of tracks. But now the focus is maybe on him too much."