“Yesterday was a bad day for me and I accept that. But the result of the last two races, I wish I could take some responsibility for the car breaking down in Canada or the penalties today. But it's been completely outside of my control.

“And that is an incredibly difficult pill to swallow. I don't ever really believe in good luck or bad luck.

“But when I look at this season as a whole, you know, leading the race in Canada, break down, could have been on the podium today, zero points. Leading the race in Japan, safety car came out 10 seconds after my pitstop.

“The whole season could look totally different. Now I'm 70 points off the lead.”

George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren

Even with the latest generation of slightly narrower F1 cars, overtaking in Monaco is incredibly difficult so qualifying is key. Qualifying sixth made Russell’s race all the more challenging before it had even begun.

In his first stint he was bottled up behind the Red Bull of Isack Hadjar, who was struggling for grip and suffering power unit issues. That cost him well over half a minute to the leading group – then, after pitting at the end of lap 31 and successfully undercutting Hadjar, he was stymied by the struggling McLaren of Lando Norris, who was yet to pit.

Norris was also ordered to hold Russell up so team-ate Oscar Piastri could potentially pit and emerge ahead of Russell. Although Norris eventually had to retire his car, by then Russell was over a minute behind Antonelli, and was lapped by him before the safety car was deployed late on.

Thus the damage was done before Russell inadvertently failed to serve the 5s penalty he had picked up for speeding in the pitlane during his stop.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

The result means Antonelli leads the championship with 156 points, while Lewis Hamilton has moved into second place with 90 points to Russell’s 88.

Such a margin isn’t insurmountable, but Russell recognises something needs to change to make this possible.

“It’s not [too big a gap to close],” he said. “You look at Verstappen last year. “But I need to get myself out of… I don't know how we keep ending up in the same position. Things I need to improve for sure. But I know on clean weekends what I can do.”

Photos from Monaco GP - Sunday

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Manuel Eletto / Getty Images

Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images

Fisher in the Paddock

Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Anni Graf - Formula 1 via Getty Images

Jayce Illman / Getty Images

Kym Illman / Getty Images

Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

George Russell, Mercedes

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Allan McNish, Racing Director of Audi F1 Team talks to Donald Trump Jr and his wife Bettina Anderson

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Sir Jackie Stewart and Jacky Ickx.

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Yachts in the harbour.

Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images

Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian on the grid.

Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian in the paddock with Silvia Domenicali and Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One Group.

Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Pascal Le Segretain / Sygma via Getty Images

Mohammed ben Sulayem, FIA President, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene of Monaco, and Stefano Domenicali, CEO, Formula One Group.

Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Audi F1 Team pit stop practice.

John Phillips / LAT Images via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Joe Portlock / Getty Images

Alexander Albon, Williams, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Joe Portlock / Getty Images

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Dom Gibbons / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Marshals clear the track under the red flag.

The track is swept during a red flag delay.

An official signals 5 minutes left until the restart in the pit lane.

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, crosses the finish line to win the Monaco Grand Prix.

Andrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.