F1 News: George Russell Heartbroken After Monaco Mistake - "Cost Everything"

George Russell reflects on the Monaco Grand Prix, acknowledging a crucial mistake that cost him a potential podium finish despite being in a strong position during the race.

George Russell, reflecting on the Monaco Grand Prix, revealed how a single mistake had a significant impact on his race outcome. Despite receiving praise for his performance in the upgraded Mercedes W14, many were unaware of the error that cost him a P3 podium finish.

As rain unexpectedly fell on the Monaco tarmac making for one of the most interesting races of the season so far, Russell made a quick decision to switch to Intermediate tires, differentiating himself from his closest competitors. This strategic move initially positioned him for a potential third-place finish.

However, the British driver locked up under yellow flags and found himself navigating an escape road. In an attempt to rejoin the track, he collided with Sergio Perez, resulting in a five-second penalty and damage to his car. Consequently, Russell ultimately crossed the finish line in fifth place.

Reflecting on the race, Russell remarked:

"It was an exceptionally boring race until the rain came down. It sort of came out of nowhere as it wasn't really on the forecast. I'm really kicking myself because P3 was almost guaranteed after pitting."

The pivotal moment came when a yellow flag was waved, causing Russell to slow down. However, a lapse in focus led to a locking of the brakes in the slippery conditions, following Aston Martin's Lance Stroll up the escape road. 

The young driver acknowledged the disappointment:

“It’s probably a lesson that actually when you’re not on it and you’re not focused you make those mistakes.

“Probably if there wasn’t a yellow flag there I would be focused more and I wouldn’t have gone off. Cost the team a conformable P3.

“It’s very disappointing when you do everything right for 98 per cent [of the race] but that one tiny mistake cost everything”

“I don’t believe it was clear to many people that we were effectively P3 on track and lost it.

“A lot of people came to me saying ‘well done on P5’ not knowing that I made a big mistake that lost us P3.”

Russell will go into the Spanish Grand Prix this coming weekend with a refreshed attitude, especially as this is the first race the Brackley team will be able to properly see the effects the upgrades have had on the Silver Arrows.

As fans saw last weekend, the car has a new set of sidepods and a new front suspension setup, accompanied by new floor fencing that was lifted for all to see (and photograph) after Lewis Hamilton's crash ahead of qualifying. With Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya being a track where they can start to fully analyse the upgrades, I'm expecting a surge in performance from the English squad.