George Russell Wrestles with Steering Woes in Monaco: A Gorilla Grip on F1 Challenges

George Russell compelled to grip F1 steering wheel "as a gorilla" due to vibration problem

George Russell illuminates the vibration problem that troubled his Friday in Monaco.

George Russell disclosed that during the Monaco practice, his Mercedes F1 vehicle vibrated intensely, compelling him to grip the steering wheel with significant force, akin to how a gorilla would.

Russell's day was anything but smooth, as he faced a problem with his car's brakes causing vibrations during practice.

In FP2, the issue emerged again, with Russell informing his team via radio that the vibration during braking at Turn 11 was currently quite severe.

"I'm unable to maintain my grip on the driving wheel."

In the second practice session, Russell managed to secure only the 10th quickest lap, trailing his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by nearly eight-tenths of a second.

Following the meeting, Russell revealed that the vibration problem he experienced significantly affected his "confidence to attack" the Monaco street circuit.

"The moment I applied the brakes, everything started vibrating intensely. I'm not sure what the issue was," Russell explained.

"I did everything in my power to maintain a firm grip, similar to a gorilla's. Nonetheless, it continued to tremble.

"In conditions such as these, which demand confidence for an aggressive approach, it hindered our performance. We concluded that the most prudent decision was to end the day's lengthy session early and investigate the issue. Overall, the car showed good performance throughout the day. We secured the third position in the first practice, followed by Lewis securing the second position. It's evident the vehicle is performing efficiently. However, Charles has taken a significant lead ahead of us."

Beyond the previously mentioned problem with Russell, it turned out to be the most successful Friday of the year for Mercedes.

Hamilton led the morning session, while Russell secured the fourth position.

In the second free practice session (FP2), Hamilton trailed closely behind Charles Leclerc, finishing less than a tenth of a second from Leclerc's remarkable

Russell's spirits were lifted by the performance of the W14 in the principality.

"He acknowledged the fast pace of change but affirmed that today stood out as one of their most exceptional Fridays without question."

"The vehicle is performing at its peak level around Monaco, better than I've ever experienced. Hence, there are numerous advantages."

Currently, everyone is advancing rapidly. It's evident from the pace at which lap times are improving over last year's. There's a chance we might surpass previous lap records – we're hoping it's our team. It's an encouraging feeling. However, we still need to wait and see how the weather conditions will impact us.

Russell is optimistic about securing a position in the top five during Saturday's qualifying session.

"I'd rank it among the top five. However, it's constantly evolving. Plus, there are always unexpected elements," he finished.

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