Monaco Grand Prix: George Russell is confused by the fight against Kimi Antonelli.

Russell said they believe the problem is down to individual driving styles and whether the tires are at the right temperature for the weight.

“There’s obviously a difference in driving style between the two of us, which was there last year as well, but it played right into my hands last year,” Russell said.

“And this year is clearly playing right into his hands, but it still doesn’t answer why I was so good at the beginning of the year and now I’m so poor. So, we have to see why. It’s clear in the data.

“The difference is how our driving affects the tires. He’s getting the tires in a better window than me, good balance during the lap, and the speed is getting easier for him. I don’t know why.

“I’ve been driving this way my whole career, and now, for whatever reason, it doesn’t work with this car.

“Last year’s car Kim was trying to drive in my lane and it wasn’t working for him.

“It’s not an excuse, it’s just the reality, and I have to work with the team to adjust my driving to compensate for these new tires, these new cars, or find a different setup that works for me.”

The qualifying results were particularly disappointing for Russell, who was in the finals in Canada; For two different reasons.

Monaco has a unique level of track racing where driving talent can make a difference and will need to make the field in the championship.

From sixth, he’s unlikely to top the field at a track expected to be next to impossible, even given the increased chances of passing with the new cars introduced this year.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff told Sky Sports: “George is very strong and strong. There were a few races that went against him, because luck was not on his side or he was just not at the right time. Here, I don’t think it was a psychological aspect, he didn’t have confidence in the car.

“Qualifying started on a bad foot. Once you start running behind the performance and you lose confidence, it’s extremely difficult to catch up again and I think it will be one more session and he was there but he had nothing to catch.”

Of Antonelli’s performance and the Italian’s new high, Wolff said: “He just has good motivation behind him. He’s very young, there’s still this simplicity. When you have that kind of positivity, these things can happen.”