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Motorsport
Motorsport
Filip Cleeren

George Russell: Monaco F1 pace shows Ferrari hype "wasn't just chat"

George Russell Ferrari Lewis Hamilton Mercedes

Mercedes F1 driver George Russell says Ferrari's practice pace at the Monaco Grand Prix has only reinforced their favourite status for the weekend.

Mercedes and McLaren bombarded Ferrari as the pre-event favourite due to the excellent low-speed performance of its chassis paired with the strong torque delivery of its engine and its smaller turbocharger.

Friday's running did little to dispel that notion, Russell felt, as Lewis Hamilton led home hero Charles Leclerc to end the day on top in FP2, 0.168s clear of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, and almost four tenths ahead of Russell.

"We expected Ferrari to be the guys to beat. A lot of people thought it was just chat, but clearly they are the team to beat," Russell said after finishing the day in fourth, one tenth up on championship leading team-mate Kimi Antonelli. "I think Red Bull have also been a bit of a surprise for us.

"We knew out of the races so far this was going to be our most challenging. It's probably been slightly more challenging than we would have hoped, but we did make some good improvements from FP1 into FP2.

"We need to make the same step again overnight and I don't think we nailed it today. There is room to improve, but definitely Ferrari are the team."

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari (Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images)

Russell suggested Mercedes has a few ideas to improve its mechanical performance overnight on Monte Carlo's tricky street circuit, but wasn't sure if that would be enough to match Ferrari.

"Every car has an inherent DNA and [Ferrari's] inherent DNA, especially on the mechanical side of the car, clearly works on these street tracks," Russell pointed out. "Especially when there's a lot of warp in the corners, the corners dropping away.

"We're doing everything we can to try and make those improvements, but as I said, I do think we can close the gap if we can overcome it."

Photos from Monaco GP - Friday

61 Formula 1 Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 George Russell, Mercedes, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Alexander Albon, Williams, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Lando Norris, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Carlos Sainz, Williams

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Flavio Briatore, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Carlos Sainz, Williams

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Morgan Gibbs-White

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Tamara Kalinic and Xenia Adonts

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 A general view of the city from the harbour.

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Flavio Briatore, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Lando Norris, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Alexandra Leclerc arrives in the paddock.

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Fan

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 A general view of the harbour with the Paddock Club.

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday
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