Russell: Nothing fell our way

Russell was always going to struggle in Monaco after car failure in Q2 of qualifying meant he had to start the race from 14th, while his teammate Kimi Antonello crashed in Q1 and started 15th.

And while teams executed tactics that meant one driver blocked rivals, opening a gap for his teammate to pit and keep his position, Russell admitted Mercedes tried to do the same, but with rivals around them doing the same and the low starting positions of both Mercedes cars, that was not possible.

Reflecting on the race in Mercedes' post-race report, after finishing 11th, Russell said: "It really felt like we were playing chess today on track with this new mandatory two-stop regulation.

"The strategy was for Kimi and I to help each other out and gain positions throughout the race," he revealed. "Unfortunately, Williams and Racing Bulls opted for the same strategy, and it left us without any real options. We still tried to play the long game, hoping for a Safety Car or red flag, but nothing fell our way."

Commenting further on the two mandatory pitstops, the Briton added: "With this regulation, it was easy for teams to work together, inverting cars and giving free stops possibilities.

"Driving four seconds off the pace and not being overtaken is easy here in Monaco so the calculation to do that is easy to make," he pointed out having been vocal about his frustration with Williams' Alex Albon who was blocking in favour of teammate Carlos Sainz.

Russell passed Albon by cutting the chicane and refused team orders to give the position back, insisting that he preferred to get a penalty and accusing the Thai driver of driving too slowly and dangerously. Russell was given a drive-through penalty for his antics.

Antonelli, in the sister car, finished the Monaco GP down in 18th after his second tough weekend in a row; he commented: "I am disappointed with today's result but that was ultimately not a surprise having qualified P15 yesterday.

"It was not the most exciting race we've ever done, and the strategy didn't work out in our favour. I tried to be aggressive in the beginning of the race, to gain as many positions as possible.

"I made a move on [Gabriel] Bortoleto before the tunnel; I had the pace and went for it and was able to move up one place," the Italian said of the move the ended with the Brazilian in the wall.

"After that, we tried to play the long game but other midfield teams like Racing Bulls and Williams were running their own race and we found ourselves in a train, way off the pace, with no possibilities to overtake.

"Despite the disappointing result, Monaco has been another good learning weekend for me. I struggled a lot on the C6 tyre compound, just like in Imola, and struggled to get the single laps in.

"I am happy to head to Barcelona now where we will be on the harder tyre compounds that I know well," Antonelli concluded.

It was a disappointing weekend for Mercedes as they left Monaco pointless, but the team's fate was sealed after their disastrous qualifying.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff commented: "Today was just not our day. Starting P14 and P15 was going to be a challenge, and we knew about this from the start.

"There were no scenarios that could have brought us some points and hoping for a red flag or a Safety Car was the only option available to us.

"Saturday's Qualifying penalized us for today's race, and that's usually the case in Monaco when you start further back in the field.

"It was a frustrating race for our team, and I am sure many fans didn't enjoy the spectacle." the Austrian pointed out. "As a sport, we will look at the mandatory two stop regulation and see how we can avoid these situations in future.

"Monaco is still one of those incredible events though and an unbelievable spectacle. It is an entertaining weekend, but it is no surprise that Saturday is almost more important than race day itself.

"We must make sure to not lose the magic of Monaco, whilst creating the best racing we can around these narrow streets," Wolff concluded.