29/05/2025 18:45
George Russell has rejected the suggestion being a "rebel" is part
of a new version of him, after he deliberately cut the Nouvelle
Chicane during the Monaco Grand Prix. Having stepped into a
leadership role at Mercedes following the departure of Lewis
Hamilton over the winter, the 27-year-old has been one of the
stand-out performers so far this year and, in extension of his
position as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, is
considered by many to be someone who leads by example. However,
during the race in Monte Carlo, the British driver grew fed up of
sitting behind Alex Albon's Williams, who he light-heartedly said
was driving like a "grandma." Therefore, he took matters into his
own hands. Although, the stewards took a dim view of his actions,
dishing out a drive-though penalty to the three-time grand prix
winner, in part to dissuade others from attempted similar tactics.
"I was just getting tired of staring at the back of a Williams rear
wing for 50 laps, to be honest," Russell told media, including
RacingNews365 , when asked if taking more risks was part of the new
him. "It was a bit ironic, because I finished higher up the order
by doing that move than I would have done if I just stuck behind
Alex - I pulled a whole pit stop in the space of three laps, and
then I was free to do my own race. "But for us, the weekend was
gone so early, we weren't fighting for anything. You get the same
points for P11 as you do for P20." Instead, Russell reiterated his
stance from last weekend that he merely wanted to enjoy part of the
race, having been robbed of the opportunity to set a push lap on
the limit during Q3 in qualifying the day prior. He also did not
miss the opportunity to get in his parting joke at the expense of
Albon, who he made treat him to dinner on Sunday evening . "And I
just wanted to enjoy Monaco," he said. "I didn't get the chance on
Saturday. "It's the most adrenaline you get in a whole season, and
I didn't have that chance because of what happened, and I at least
enjoy the last 25 laps of the race. "So it's not part of the new
George Russell, being a rebel, cutting the track. It was just
getting tired of seeing Alex driving like a grandma."
