'I am going to take the positives': Russell upbeat despite failing to hold on to Monza win

[p]However, in a similar tone to what we have heard frequently since Formula 1's return from the summer break, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]Russell[/a] was keen to focus on the positives from the weekend and his improved performances over the last two race weekends. [/p][p]He said: [b]"I'm going to take the positives from the weekend because, for me personally, pre-summer break, it was a real tough run of form. [/b][/p][p]"I came back from the break and I have been in the top three of all of them. I would have loved to have won today, but the performances are far better than I've had."[/p][embed guid="ee9de033-f358-473d-a282-a3f97dcff18f" url="https://x.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/2096652328887595334" social-type="twitter" /][p]On the epic battle with his teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Antonelli[/a] that pitted the two championship rivals against each other lap after lap, Russell admitted it had some parallels to their thrilling exchanges at the Canadian Grand Prix.[/p][p][b]"Now you've said it, a little bit. I would have loved to have continued on the same strategy because I felt in a good position in that battle. I knew exactly what I needed to do with the energy management to defend but also when to attack and make those moves. [/b][/p][p]"I put a lot of preparation into this race in that regard, and then when the VSC (virtual safety car) came out, it provided the perfect opportunity for drivers to pull the trigger and take a pit stop."[/p][embed guid="ef05ca77-b00b-486f-a161-16ea996b06f2" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2096653152783315432" social-type="twitter" /][p]When asked about how seriously he considered pitting when the virtual safety car came out, Russell admitted he hadn't.[/p][p][b]"I didn't. I actually thought the guys behind me were going to stay out as well but I am sure the team was quite nervous watching on the pitwall and were probably quite happy to send us on different strategies.[/b][/p][p]"And of course, when you add Max to the mix as well, from a team perspective you are covering off both scenarios."[/p][p]When pressed further on whether Mercedes favoured championship leader Antonelli on strategy, Russell defended his team. [/p][p][b]"I think I was on the hard tyre and Kimi was on the medium tyre, so if either of us were going to pit, it was going to be Kimi. [/b][/p][p]"But Max was right about the timing of the VSC because I think it would have been tough for those guys on the mediums to have defeated anyone on the hard tyre. But taking nothing away from Kimi's drive, he put it all together."[/p]