Russell highlights 'systemic flaw' in F1 scoring a better result with penalty

21:15, 25 May

byNorberto Mujica

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."

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.