George Russell endured a challenging outing during Sunday’s Grand Prix in Monaco after a driver error saw him slide off the track and lose out on a shot at P3.
While others pitted for slick compound tyres, Russell attempted to pit straight for intermediates, avoiding an extra stop over the rain-soaked track.
Having slid off the track, Russell was lucky to not find himself even further down the pack, after he made contact with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez as he rejoined the track following his mistake.
Russell had started the Grand Prix in P8 before making his way through the grid thanks to the newly redesigned W14, with a more aero-heavy set up.
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Unfortunately, his mistake left him having to settle for P5 behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton, causing the younger driver to fume over the radio in frustration.
“I was venting my frustrating at myself,” Russell told reporters post-race.
“Nothing really more than that. As a driver you sometimes want to get this frustration out of your body.
“I learned my mistake wasn’t shown on TV until after the race.
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“I don’t think it was clear to many people that we lost P3 on track. Not many people realised at the time I made a mistake and cost us P3.”
Russell’s drive finish in P5 could have been further derailed had the stewards taken a different approach, as the Brit managed to avoid an early penalty over an incorrect starting procedure.
The Mercedes driver accepted he was kicking himself over the costly mistake, seeking to use the moment as a learning opportunity for future races.