Merc: Russell and Hamilton 'on same pace' | Lewis: I won't give up

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has defended Lewis Hamilton after another frustrating day in 2022, condemning Fernando Alonso's hold-up in the Monaco GP while also insisting the seven-time champion and George Russell are "very much on the same pace".

Hamilton finished only eighth in Sunday's frenetic wet-dry Monte Carlo affair, which is also where he qualified, as F1's most successful driver finished behind young team-mate George Russell for the sixth race in a row.

Hamilton was first frustrated by the Alpine of Esteban Ocon, who earned a penalty for contact with the Mercedes, and then of Alonso, who then slowly held Hamilton up around the narrow streets.

"He could have been right there and could have closed Lando [Norris, sixth] or even fight with George [fifth] and Lando at the front because that was his pace," Wolff said afterwards.

Hamilton has bemoaned bad luck so far in 2022, with Safety Cars costing him many points while his Monaco GP weekend was hampered by a red flag in qualifying and then the Alpines in the race.

"When you look at the bad spells Lewis had, stuck behind Fernando today, the contact with Esteban, the red flag in qualifying yesterday," added Wolff.

"I think the pendulum will swing and this unlucky situation will stop with Lewis as they are very much on the same pace."

Hamilton is currently sixth in the drivers' standings, 75 points behind leader Max Verstappen. Late on Sunday night, he posted a message to fans on his Instagram stories as he stated: "I'm sorry I haven't given you any great results this year but I won't give up, we win and lose together."

Hamilton restarted the race after the red flag behind Alonso and could not clear the Alpine, who was purposefully driving slow with overtaking difficult