Russell finds it hard to pick grid order with 'only Verstappen performing for Red Bull'

According to the British driver, Mercedes have "been probably on average the third best team this season, but being the third best team has often found ourselves on the podium or qualifying in the top three," he began to GPblog among others.

Russell also sees that is down to several different factors. "It's not quite as straightforward as it once was in the past. Red Bull only have Max performing at the moment, Lando and Oscar are both there in the race, but sometimes their qualifying performance is a bit inconsistent and we can sneak in."

Ferrari had a difficult start to the current campaign. After seven rounds have been completed in 2025, they are currently in fourth place in the constructors' standings, 33 points less than Mercedes, who are in second place.

Russell also named Ferrari as a potential team to score a good result in the Principality. "Then, equally Ferrari, they sometimes have better races, they sometimes have worse races. They were pretty good in Imola in the race pace, they were pretty good in Jeddah as well, but now we're in Monaco, where they've been the kings of in the past, but maybe their new car isn't as suited, so right now we're not sure," the British driver concluded.

Moreover, the order might just switch after the Monaco GP too. A new technical directive is set to be introduced ahead of the Spanish GP in terms of the flexible front wings. Entering that weekend, these wings cannot bend by more than 10 millimetres, compared to the current 15 millimetres.