Double Mishap for Mercedes in Monaco Qualifying
The Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix saw a double blow for Mercedes as their promising weekend took an unexpected turn, leaving George Russell with a dismal outlook. After Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s unfortunate crash at the end of Q1, the Italian was relegated to 15th place. But it was Russell who suffered the most significant setback, forced to abandon his W16 in the tunnel after a technical issue.
Technical Glitch Puts George Russell on the Backfoot
Mercedes confirmed that Russell lost power upon hitting a bump coming out of Turn 1 and was unable to restart the car despite multiple attempts at switch changes. The team suspects an electrical problem, leaving Russell starting one place ahead of Antonelli in 14th but with little hope for a strong showing on race day.
Russell expressed his disappointment, stating that they had been making progress all weekend only to lose it all due to the technical issue. He felt confident that they would have been among the top four contenders if not for this unfortunate incident.
Antonelli’s Self-Inflicted Woes
In a separate incident, Antonelli crashed at Nouvelle Chicane in the final seconds of Q1, ruling him out of the rest of qualifying. Although he lamented his mistake, the Italian rookie remains optimistic about Mercedes‘ chances, suggesting that the team might consider a different strategy given the mandatory two-stop rule this year.
Antonelli acknowledged that his error made things difficult for the team but emphasized that Russell was not at fault. He intends to review his performance and come back stronger after two consecutive challenging weekends.
Strategy Shifts and Cautious Optimism
Both drivers may consider varying their strategies given their less-than-ideal starting positions. However, Russell appears downbeat about his prospects, stating that there are ten cars between him and where he should have been, making it challenging to navigate through the field.
When asked about potential early pits or long stints, Russell indicated that they will make a decision based on the tyres other teams choose. He hinted at the possibility of an early pit if teams opt for a very early one-stop strategy, while a longer stint might be considered if everyone starts on hard tyres.
