Russell highlights 'systemic flaw' in F1 scoring a better result with penalty than without!
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A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
George Russell received a drive-through penalty for overtaking Alexander Albon off the track, a punishment the Briton did not expect, but a decision by which he continues to stand, since he would have finished lower in the order if he hadn't, which highlights a 'systemic flaw' in the Monaco GP pitstop rules.
"I was a little bit surprised," began George Russell after the Monaco Grand Prix in a conversation with, among others, GPblog. " But I've got to be honest, I didn't really care because I was out of the points."
Russell will foot Albon the bill
"I didn't get the chance yesterday to enjoy Monaco. And I just said, screw it, I want to enjoy Monaco. I want to enjoy driving this track full gas. It's one of the best circuits in the world. And that's what I did the last 25 laps, was the most fun I've had all weekend. Pretty exhilarating. I was really pushing my limits, testing myself."
For Russell, his fate was clear if he hadn't overtaken Albon off the track. "And as I said, ironically, if I didn't do this, I would have finished maybe 15th or 16th."
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The Thai driver admitted to feeling at odds with having blocked Russell. When told of Albon's words, he replied: "I’m having dinner with him tonight, so he is definitely getting the bill."
George Russell during the Monaco Grand Prix
Russell's result proves a systemic flaw
Russell revealed that for the Monaco Grand Prix, after a rather dismal qualifying for the Mercedes pair, their plans were basically the same as VCARB's and Williams' were. To use one driver to hold back the pack, to allow the other driver to pull out a gap and thus earn a free pitstop, and then doing it the other way around.
"We had planned with Kimi and I to basically have the same strategy as what VCARB and Williams implemented with the two drivers, but ultimately, qualifying 14th and 15th, there is nothing you can do."
"You pit on lap one, you would have finished nowhere. You go long, you finish nowhere. Ironically, I finished in a higher position by doing my manoeuvre with Alex, than I would have done if I hadn't. So, that in itself proves the system is pretty flawed," the Brit concluded.
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