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George Russell was left “bamboozled” after another dent in his title tussle with Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli at the Monaco Grand Prix.
British driver Russell, in his fifth season at Mercedes, was the overwhelming favourite for the world championship at the start of the season but has only claimed one victory, at the season-opener in Australia.
Italian teen sensation Antonelli, meanwhile, has won the last four races and looks to be on his way to a fifth after claiming a sensational pole position around the streets of Monte Carlo, pipping Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to top spot.
Russell, however, has been struggling all weekend and could only put his car sixth on the grid. With overtaking nigh-on impossible in Monaco, it looks set to be another damaging weekend for the 28-year-old.
Asked if he knew why he was struggling, Russell told Sky Sports: “No. If I knew I’d be able to not be in that position.
“The start of the year was easy; the last three races it’s just been nowhere. Even Canada was a real fight, but then I nailed it. That was pulling something special out of the hat. That’s where I am right now. Don’t really know.
“There’s definitely some things we’ve seen, with my natural driving style, which doesn’t suit it me as last year did.I don’t want to go into too much detail.
“Last year suited me just fine; this year suits him [Antonelli] very well. It still doesn’t answer why the start of the year was such a breeze.
“I don’t know – bit bamboozled right now.”
On the flip side, Antonelli could not wipe the smile off his face after claiming the highly-coveted pole position around the streets of Monaco, beating four-time world champion Verstappen to pole by just 0.043 seconds.
“It was one of those laps we call the magic lap,” he said. “I was able to put it together; it was such a close qualifying with Max. I knew the last lap was good, just hoping it was enough. Very happy with that.
“This is one of the most intense, if not the most intense, qualifying of the year. It takes a massive effort. When it’s about finding the last two-tenths, the walls come closer. I have to be honest, I felt great this morning.
“That was a big step compared to last year, looking forward to tomorrow.”
Charles Leclerc qualified fourth at his home race, with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar in fifth. The McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris could only manage seventh and eighth respectively.
