Hamilton will start as one of the favourites to repeat his 2008 triumph and rekindle his title hopes after a suspected tyre rim failure cost him second place in the Spanish Grand Prix. Instead of heading into the famous race around the principality a point behind McLaren team-mate Jenson Button, Hamilton will start 21 points adrift and eager to forget what transpired on the penultimate lap at the Circuit de Catalunya.
But Monaco this year promises to be a very different proposition as there are 24 cars on the grid, with the six newcomers from Virgin, Lotus and Hispania Racing considerably slower.
Around Monaco's twisty, narrow streets, there will be an unknown element to qualifying and the race, even more so if it is wet, as is currently being forecast.
For qualifying, plans to split the initial 20-minute session have been quashed, which means it will be a lottery for all concerned, while backmarkers in the race will also prove a problem.
"It could be a disaster," Hamilton said.
"I lapped (Virgin's Lucas) di Grassi four times yesterday. That's one of the biggest gaps I've had in Formula One."
Asked if the slower cars could screw up his plans this weekend, Hamilton replied: "I don't know about 'screw', but it's just very difficult when there is such a big difference.
"You catch them so quick, it's just unreal. When you see them you are wondering where they will move out of the way, and then they move into the wrong position.
"They'll go on the inside and be in the corner as you come up to them, so it gets quite tricky.
"So far, fortunately, there have been no incidents and it's been okay, but Monaco will be very tough."
Hamilton just avoided a crash into the back of Di Grassi on Sunday as he diced with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel after emerging back onto the track following his pit stop.
"I still had so much work to do," added Hamilton.
"The backmarker didn't do a very spectacular job. I don't know what the hell he was doing there.
"It wasn't very safe. I had to go left, Vettel was going right, and it looked worse than it was."
If Hamilton manages to escape any incidents around Monaco, he feels he has a car to again win Formula One's blue riband event.
"I feel I did a very good job considering we didn't have the fastest car," Hamilton said of yesterday's race.
"To be as consistent as I was, I didn't make any mistakes and I'm really very happy with my performance.
"Even though you didn't see me do any overtaking, I feel it was one of my best performances because I feel I improved, and I was really controlled.
"So I feel I've a great chance at Monaco this year. We've a strong car and I love the place.
"I've had quite good results there in the past, and I feel the car now is the best I've had during my time at the team.
"We should be competitive, and there's no reason why we shouldn't be challenging the Red Bulls there.
"Whether or not we'll see a gap of one second between us and them, who knows, but it's going to be very tricky again.
"A driver can have bit more of an impact on his overall time there.
"Hopefully the weather holds up for us, but if it rains, that will make it exciting."
Hamilton will at least be eager to avoid what unfolded last year when he put his car in the barrier in qualifying when he knew he had a shot at victory, despite the woeful nature of the McLaren at the time.
"I don't remember it," joked Hamilton.
He then added: "Somehow, even though I had a terrible car, I had a chance to be in the top four, and I was just unfortunate.
"I was always on the ragged edge, and being on the ragged edge there with a bad car is hard work.
"I locked up the rears and put it in the wall. These things happen."
Source: Planet-F1
