George Russell was left lamenting a "disastrous" Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix with the Mercedes driver branding it the "worst day we've had as a team" for several years.
The Briton started third for Sunday's race at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit and pulled alongside front-row starter Max Verstappen from the initial launch off the line.
But Russell's path immediately ahead was blocked by polesitter Oscar Piastri, as the McLaren driver hugged the inside line on the run to the first braking zone at the Tamburello chicane, meaning Russell had to settle for third through the opening sequence of corners.
"I made a great start and I was hoping Oscar was going to move over slightly just to block Max in but didn't and then it was just downhill from there," said Russell, who would eventually finish in seventh. "Disastrous day, I had no pace and I was glad to see the chequered flag."
Russell led Norris briefly but couldn't keep the McLaren driver behind
Russell ran in third for the opening laps but quickly chewed through his medium tyres while trying to keep Lando Norris' McLaren behind, before eventually conceding the position into the Villeneuve chicane.
Mercedes decided to box Russell for a fresh set of hard tyres shortly after, but the stratigic decision left him down the field as the majority of drivers decided against pitting until much later.
Having lost further ground to those ahead, who were able to pit under a Virtual Safety Car after Esteban Ocon's Haas came to a stop on track before the halfway point of the 63-lap race, a late Safety Car offered the chance for some recovery.
But seventh at the chequered flag means Russell has finished outside the top five in a Grand Prix for the first time this season as he lamented the hot conditions in Italy, which proved too much for Mercedes.
"We knew it was going to be challenging – we've always been slow when it's hot out there and today it was hot," he said.
"Right now I don't have any answers, it was in terms of pace probably the worst day we've had as a team in a couple of years. We need to go back to the drawing board."
Russell brands Emilia Romagna GP a ‘disastrous day… I had no pace’
Mercedes team mate Kimi Antonelli fared even worse in front of his home fans, the Italian retiring with a mechanical issue which brought out the late Safety Car having been running in the points.
"To be honest I had high hopes but then after a couple of laps I started to have the throttle issue and then at the end it completely went off," he said.
"Of course is a shame but it's things that happen and I think overall the pace was not too bad at the end of the day."
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