Monaco highlighted Mercedes’ weaknesses again

Mercedes’ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said the Monaco circuit “highlighted our weaknesses” after a P5 and P8 finish.

The reigning Constructors’ Champions looked to have turned their season around in Barcelona when upgrades to their car finally reduced the porpoising effect that had hampered their campaign up to that point.

So much so was the improvement that many pundits as well as those within the paddock were tipping Mercedes to be back in title race and make it a three-way fight between themselves, Red Bull and Ferrari. Yet in Monaco, their fortunes were drastically different to their would-be title opponents.

Torquing Point: Monaco Grand Prix review

Mercedes take small steps backwards again

Torquing Point: A bump in the road for Mercedes' recovery - Monaco GP Conclusion

Mick Schumacher needs to turn his season around fast

Beginning of the end for Ricciardo at McLaren?

Ferrari cost themselves the race win

Torquing Point: Carlos Sainz's intelligence and strength shines through - Monaco GP Conclusions

Torquing Point: Sergio Perez had the measure of Max in Monaco - Monaco GP Conclusions

Torquing Point: Does Monaco Deserve A Place On The Calendar - Monaco GP Conclusions

Red Bull earned a 1-3 finish while Ferrari finished P2 and P4 yet both had a clear pace advantage over Mercedes.

George Russell finished 11.968 seconds off race winner Sergio Perez while Hamilton was 50.388 behind the Mexican.

Shovlin described it as “a frustrating weekend” for the team third in the Constructors’ Championship.

“It’s been a frustrating weekend for the team and drivers,” he wrote in Mercedes post-race debrief. “We weren’t anywhere near quick enough on one lap but even in the race we didn’t have enough pace.

“George did a