George Russell questions Carlos Sainz's reinstatement to Monaco podium

At the opening turn in Sundays Monaco Grand Prix, Sainz's tussle with Oscar Piastri's McLaren led to a punctured front-left tire on the Ferrari, forcing him out momentarily at Casino Square.

Amidst the chaos, a red flag waved following a severe collision involving Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen.

During the halt, the FIA's verdict emerged: Sainz would resume his third-place grid spot for the standing restart, a choice Mercedes driver Russell found perplexing. "I would say no, it's not correct," Russell remarked, airing his doubts to the media.

"I don't know what the ruling is, but that was a bit strange."

Russell, eyeing a podium opportunity, expressed frustration over the lost chance. "Especially when Carlos had that puncture, I thought we had, at minimum, a chance to fight for the podium and maybe even more," he lamented.

The race unfolded with historic predictability as the top 10 qualifiers retained their positions, validating concerns of a procession. Russell advocated for a shake-up, suggesting a Pirelli tire change to inject excitement into the event. "It is great to be racing in Monaco, but we need to change something to make it more interesting on a Sunday," he urged, proposing a switch to softer compounds for the entire weekend.

Despite the stalemate, Russell found solace in the race's late drama, noting the closing gap between frontrunners and himself.

"When I looked at the pace at the end, the gap was up to 30 seconds behind Charles at one point, and then we brought it down to 12 seconds," he observed, emphasizing the positives.

With eyes now on the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, slated for June 7-9 at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, Russell's hopes remain high for a more exhilarating race weekend. As Formula 1 enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the ninth instalment of the season, the stage is set for another chapter in the ongoing saga of speed and spectacle.