George Russell dismisses 'rebel' tag after fight with 'grandma' Alex Albon

George Russell has rejected the suggestion being a "rebel" is part of a new version of him, after he deliberately cut the Nouvelle Chicane during the Monaco Grand Prix.

Having stepped into a leadership role at Mercedes following the departure of Lewis Hamilton over the winter, the 27-year-old has been one of the stand-out performers so far this year and, in extension of his position as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, is considered by many to be someone who leads by example.

However, during the race in Monte Carlo, the British driver grew fed up of sitting behind Alex Albon's Williams, who he light-heartedly said was driving like a "grandma." Therefore, he took matters into his own hands.

Although, the stewards took a dim view of his actions, dishing out a drive-though penalty to the three-time grand prix winner, in part to dissuade others from attempted similar tactics. 

"I was just getting tired of staring at the back of a Williams rear wing for 50 laps, to be honest," Russell told media, including RacingNews365, when asked if taking more risks was part of the new him.

"It was a bit ironic, because I finished higher up the order by doing that move than I would have done if I just stuck behind Alex - I pulled a whole pit stop in the space of three laps, and then I was free to do my own race.

"But for us, the weekend was gone so early, we weren't fighting for anything. You get the same points for P11 as you do for P20."

Instead, Russell reiterated his stance from last weekend that he merely wanted to enjoy part of the race, having been robbed of the opportunity to set a push lap on the limit during Q3 in qualifying the day prior.

He also did not miss the opportunity to get in his parting joke at the expense of Albon, who he made treat him to dinner on Sunday evening.

"And I just wanted to enjoy Monaco," he said. "I didn't get the chance on Saturday.

"It's the most adrenaline you get in a whole season, and I didn't have that chance because of what happened, and I at least enjoy the last 25 laps of the race.

"So it's not part of the new George Russell, being a rebel, cutting the track. It was just getting tired of seeing Alex driving like a grandma."