Russell mentioned he believed the issue lay of their respective driving types, and its impression on whether or not the tyres had been at their ultimate temperature for a qualifying lap.
“There’s clearly a distinction in driving type between the 2 of us, which has been there final yr as properly, however performed into my arms very properly final yr,” Russell mentioned.
“And it clearly is taking part in into his arms completely properly this yr, but it surely nonetheless would not reply why I used to be so good firstly of the yr and so poor now. So, we have to have a look at why that’s. It is clear within the knowledge.
“The distinction is how we’re driving has such an impression on the tyres. He is simply getting the tyres in a nicer window than me, a nicer stability over the course of a lap, and the tempo is simply coming simpler for him. I do not know why that’s.
“I have been driving on this method my entire profession, and now, for no matter motive, it isn’t working with this automobile.
“Final yr’s automobile, Kimi was attempting to drive in my method, and it was additionally not working for him.
“It is no excuse, it is only a actuality, and I must both work with the crew to regulate my driving to compensate these new tyres, these new automobiles, or I must discover a totally different set-up that works for me.”
The results of qualifying was particularly dispiriting for Russell, who was on pole on the final race in Canada, for 2 totally different causes.
Monaco has a particular standing as a observe the place driving expertise could make the distinction, and he must make up floor within the championship.
Beginning sixth, on a observe the place passing is predicted to be subsequent to unattainable even within the context of the elevated quantity of overtaking with the brand new automobiles launched this yr, means his probabilities of shifting up the sector are distant.
Mercedes crew principal Toto Wolff instructed Sky Sports activities: “George could be very sturdy and resilient. There have been a number of races that went in opposition to him, simply because luck wasn’t on his facet or he wasn’t there on the proper second. Right here, I do not suppose it is a lot a psychological facet, he simply by no means had the arrogance within the automobile.
“Qualifying began on a nasty foot. When you begin to run behind the efficiency and also you lose the arrogance, it is super-difficult to catch up once more and I feel it could have been one session extra and he would have been there or thereabouts however he did not have any grip.”
As for Antonelli’s efficiency, and a brand new excessive for the Italian, Wolff mentioned: “He simply has the great momentum behind him. He is so younger, there’s this easiness that he nonetheless has. When you might have such a positivity then these items can occur.”
