ROMANTIC George Russell arrived at the Monaco Grand Prix with his arm around girlfriend Carmen Montero Mundt.
The loved-up pair rocked up in style at the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo.
They were all smiles as they stepped off a boat together and then strolled towards the paddock.
Russell wore a white Mercedes T-shirt with white shorts while his glamorous partner Carmen stunned in a strapless white top and a long blue skirt in the Mediterranean sunshine.
It was a short commute into work for Russell, who moved to the principality over the winter after his first year as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate.
And he was in a bullish mood on home turf in the wake of the bombshell news that Hamilton is set to sign a new £50million deal with the Silver Arrows.
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In theory, that keeps Russell as the so-called No2 in the team.
But the King’s Lynn ace does not see it that way, especially after finishing above Hamilton in the drivers’ standings last season and outqualifying the seven-time world champ in four out of five races so far this year.
Russell told the Daily Mail: “I don’t care at all whether Lewis stays or Lewis goes, because I believe I can beat anyone on the grid.
“You couldn’t choose to be in a better position than to go up against Lewis.
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“What a way to test myself. While we’re in this position, he is invaluable to me. There can be no excuses on either side. He’s pushing me, I’m pushing him. I am here to beat everybody.
“I never had any self-doubt and having these 15 months alongside him has reinforced that. My confidence has grown.
“We have a good relationship and it would be great if we could turn this around and help the team to winning ways.
“Lewis is very good with people. He’s very caring, he works exceptionally hard. He’s comfortable travelling a lot, doing a lot of activities. It wouldn’t be a lifestyle many athletes want.
“It may not be this year or next that everything falls into place. But look at Fernando [Alonso], aged 41. So I have at least 15 good years left in me.
“You have to be patient, keep working, doing your thing, and no doubt my time will come.”
Russell and Hamilton have continued to be left flagging in an inferior car against the likes of Red Bull and now Aston Martin.
Their W14 machine has undergone major surgery in recent weeks with £1m spent on new parts alone to try and compete once more.
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But just a day after lauding the efforts of the engineers in the Mercedes factory, Hamilton crashed into the wall during third practice – damaging his front left wheel just hours before qualifying.
The Monaco GP gets underway tomorrow at 2pm UK time as Russell and Hamilton try and cut away at rival Max Verstappen’s championship lead.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
