Tydd St Giles F1 star outside the points at the Monaco Grand Prix

George Russell endured a frustrating Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, as a combination of technical issues and a costly penalty left the Mercedes driver outside the points in 11th place.

Tydd St Giles driver Russell’s weekend began to unravel during Saturday’s qualifying session when a battery failure forced him to stop in the tunnel during Q2, preventing him from setting a time and leaving him 14th on the grid

The race offered little respite. While attempting to overtake Alex Albon, Russell cut the chicane and gained a position.

A subsequent radio message, in which he acknowledged the move was deliberate, prompted FIA stewards to issue a drive-through penalty.

The sanction dropped him further down the order, effectively ending any hopes of a points finish.

After the race, Russell criticised the event, labelling the Monaco Grand Prix format as “flawed” and suggesting that the local crowd seemed more interested in “sipping champagne” than the racing itself.

The result leaves Russell fourth in the drivers’ standings with 93 points, while Mercedes remains second in the constructors’ championship with 141 points, trailing McLaren’s by 246.

As the Formula 1 season progresses, Russell and Mercedes will look to rebound in the upcoming races, aiming to close the gap to the leading teams.