Loading
Mercedes have been issued a €100 fine by the FIA after George Russell was found guilty of speeding in the pit lane during first practice at the Monaco Grand Prix. The breach, while marginal, is nonetheless a regulation violation that the Silver Arrows could have done without.
Russell exceeded the 60 km/h pit lane speed limit by just 0.3 km/h, a tiny overstep that is difficult to defend on the streets of Monte Carlo, where precision is expected everywhere — including in the pit lane. Under Article B1.6.3a of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, any breach of the pit lane speed limit is subject to a fine, regardless of how close to the threshold the infringement falls.
On track, Russell's Friday was reasonably productive. The Briton ended FP1 in fifth place, one second off pacesetter Charles Leclerc — a gap that reflects the challenge Mercedes may face at a circuit where Ferrari have shown considerable strength. As Ferrari dominated the session with Leclerc leading the way, the Silver Arrows were left searching for answers in the lower reaches of the top five.
Perhaps more telling was the gap within the Mercedes garage itself. Russell was four tenths slower than team-mate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who was fourth quickest — a deficit that will demand attention as the weekend builds towards qualifying.
The fine itself will have little bearing on Mercedes' broader ambitions in Monaco, but the intra-team gap and the stewards' notice together make for a muted start to the weekend for Russell, who arrives at the Principality needing a strong result to close the points deficit to Antonelli at the top of the standings.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.