FOLLOWING impressive performances in today's practice sessions, Lewis Hamilton is gunning for a top-five position in Saturday's qualifying ahead of Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. Defending world champion Hamilton followed-up this morning's third-place finish

FOLLOWING impressive performances in today's practice sessions, Lewis Hamilton is gunning for a top-five position in Saturday's qualifying ahead of Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.

Defending world champion Hamilton followed-up this morning's third-place finish in practice, to go one better in the afternoon session coming in behind Williams driver Nico Rosberg in second spot.

And far removed from recent weeks' downcast analysis from the Herts race-ace, an air of confidence seems to have returned to the 24-year-old.

He said: "From today's performance, I think Q3 is definitely possible on Saturday." "I'm optimistic about shooting for the top five - I hope we can get there."

Although expectations will be high for the man himself, Lewis still has a big job on his hands if he is to repeat last year's first-place finish at the Circuit de Monaco.