Russell ran in third for the opening laps however shortly chewed by way of his medium tyres whereas attempting to maintain Lando Norris’ McLaren behind, earlier than ultimately conceding the place into the Villeneuve chicane.
Mercedes determined to field Russell for a contemporary set of laborious tyres shortly after, however the stratigic determination left him down the sphere as the vast majority of drivers determined in opposition to pitting till a lot later.
Having misplaced additional floor to these forward, who have been in a position to pit underneath a Digital Security Automobile after Esteban Ocon’s Haas got here to a cease on monitor earlier than the midway level of the 63-lap race, a late Security Automobile supplied the possibility for some restoration.
However seventh on the chequered flag means Russell has completed outdoors the highest 5 in a Grand Prix for the primary time this season as he lamented the new circumstances in Italy, which proved an excessive amount of for Mercedes.
“We knew it was going to be difficult – we have all the time been gradual when it is sizzling on the market and right now it was sizzling,” he stated.
“Proper now I haven’t got any solutions, it was by way of tempo in all probability the worst day we have had as a group in a few years. We have to return to the drafting board.”
