Russell regarded like benefitting from a gradual cease for Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and a late name to intermediates for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to climb to 3rd as rain hit the principality within the remaining third of the race.
However after his pitstop for intermediates on lap 55, Russell appeared to get distracted by a yellow flag for a lapped Lance Stroll and joined the Aston Martin driver up the Mirabeau escape highway.
That not solely dropped Russell behind Ocon and team-mate Lewis Hamilton, however as he re-joined the racing line he was hit by Crimson Bull’s Sergio Perez, which price the Briton a five-second penalty for an unsafe rejoin.
“I am actually kicking myself as a result of P3 was nearly assured,” Russell stated when requested by Autosport about his race.
“There was a yellow flag, I backed off and as quickly as I touched the brakes I locked up and adopted Stroll up the escape highway.
“That is in all probability a lesson that really while you’re not on it and you are not targeted, you make these mistake.
“Most likely, if there wasn’t a yellow flag there, I might have simply been focusing extra. I would not have gone off and value the workforce a cushty P3.”
After his conflict with Perez Russell reported unusual behaviour on the rear of his Mercedes W14.
However as soon as the automotive settled down and any harm appeared minimal, he steered to the workforce to let him previous Hamilton and defend his buffer to Leclerc, figuring out his five-second penalty can be added after the end.
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W14
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“I positively harm the automotive a bit. I wasn’t certain I used to be going to have the ability to proceed however it form of sorted itself out because the laps progress.
“I believe the toes acquired bent on the rear finish. I felt actually uncomfortable within the automotive, however we had been the quickest on observe throughout that interval. So, I do not actually know what was happening.
“I used to be being held up by Ocon and Lewis, and Charles was closing me down. I used to be positively not going to threat something on Lewis in situations like this. However with that five-second penalty it might have been buffer if Charles had caught it up.”
However with Leclerc not gaining any floor, Russell adopted Hamilton residence in fifth, a secure 10 seconds away from the Ferrari driver.
“It was not wanted in the long run, and I stated to the workforce, no obligation and no strain from my facet after which as quickly as I knew we had been secure to Charles, I simply introduced it residence,” he added.
“However yeah, it is a bitterly disappointing while you do all the things proper for 98% of it, however that one tiny mistake prices all the things.”
