Lewis Hamilton conceded that the Monaco Grand Prix was a "miserable" experience as he was left "in no man's land" on his way to a fifth-placed finish in Monte Carlo. 

Hamilton had shown an up-turn in form prior to Sunday's race, qualifying fourth for his best Saturday result this season ahead of the grand prix.

However, the seven-time world champion was demoted three places on the grid for impeding Max Verstappen, which dropped him to seventh. 

Hamilton was able to move ahead of Isack Hadjar and Fernando Alonso after well-timed pit stops, with all drivers required to make two for the first time in Monaco. 

And the Briton, who has won around the iconic street circuit three times in his career, conceded that fifth was the highest he could have finished on Sunday. 

"I think from where I was, a three-place grid penalty moving forwards back to fifth, I think was decent – the best I could do," said Hamilton.

When asked if the experience of racing at Monaco had been enjoyable, Hamilton replied: "No, it was miserable.

"The races here are generally, unless you're first and in the lead, even when you're in the lead, it's not that fun.

"Just a nice reward at the end, but other than that, anything but first is kind of empty."

A super solid drive from @LewisHamilton bringing home a lot of points for the team pic.twitter.com/XQYQbZOCSq

— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 25, 2025

Despite finishing fifth, Hamilton was 51 seconds behind race winner Lando Norris as Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc finished just a few seconds behind in second. 

Hamilton was left unable to give an answer as to why the gap had been so large. 

"I can't comment on the rest of the race. For me, I was in the middle of nowhere," he told Sky Sports F1.

"I started seventh, was behind two cars for some time, managed to clear them, then I was in no man's land after that.

"The gap was relatively big, and I was not racing anyone. I needed a safety car or something to come into play, but it didn't happen. It was pretty straightforward from there."

Hamilton was also left frustrated by radio communications with his race engineer, Ricciardo Adami, at one point being told to push early on, which left the Briton confused.

"The information wasn't exactly that clear," he said. "I didn't really understand 'this is our race'," Hamilton added. 

"I didn't know what I was fighting for. Was I fighting for the next spot ahead?

"But, in actual fact, when I looked at the data I wasn't anywhere near any of the guys up front. I used up my tyres a lot at that moment, but I was so far away from them anyway."