Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton knows he'll need "the best start we've ever had" to challenge for victory in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. Hamilton qualified third behind Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull). With overtaking nearly impossible in Monaco's tight streets, the start becomes critical as the front runners are unlikely to change position after lap one.

Hamilton senses a small opportunity given Verstappen and Antonelli have both struggled with starts this season. Mercedes chief Toto Wolff urged his driver to make himself "wide like a tourist bus" around Monaco. The four-time world champion Verstappen admitted he "need a bit of luck" to pass Antonelli at turn one, jokingly advising Antonelli to "wait one second" when the lights go out.

Antonelli, who has won four successive races and holds a 43-point championship lead, remains cautious despite his recent progress on start performance. Former champion Jenson Button predicts fireworks at the start given Ferrari's advantage. Hamilton plans to "give it absolutely everything" and "try and hassle them as much as I can" in hopes of forcing errors from his rivals.