Russell pushed broken-down Fiat Jolly through Monaco tunnel in flip-flops

George Russell was left pushing his classic Fiat Jolly through a Monaco tunnel in flip-flops after the doorless beach car broke down on the streets of Monte Carlo, the Mercedes Formula 1 driver has revealed.

“It broke down in a tunnel while I was in flip-flops, and I had to push it out of the tunnel,” Russell told the Mercedes F1 media team, after footage of him and his partner Carmen Montero Mundt manhandling the stricken vehicle went viral on social media. The incident, he noted, happened “a little while ago.”

Far removed from the complex hybrid systems of his F1 machinery, Russell attempted a more analogue solution. “Roll it down the hill, try bump starting it,” he said. “Didn’t work, so a little breakdown. Little incident.” Fortunately, the 28-year-old had a rather more reliable vehicle nearby. “Had to tow it back with the G Wagon,” he added. “Not a bad backup.”

The light-hearted anecdote comes during what has been a turbulent start to the 2026 F1 season for Russell on track. He won the Australian Grand Prix and the Chinese sprint race, but has since watched teenage team-mate Kimi Antonelli string together four consecutive grand prix victories to build a commanding championship lead.

Russell’s run of misfortune has included car issues in China, a strategy compromised by the safety car in Japan, and a retirement from the lead in Canada. Heading into the Monaco Grand Prix, the sixth round of the season, Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings with 131 points. Russell sits second on 88 points, 43 adrift, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third on 75 and Lewis Hamilton fourth on 72.