The Formula 1 title race of George Russell has been dealt another blow after Mercedes announced the British driver will begin the Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid due to a power unit change.
Russell’s penalty comes in after his late retirement at last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang. The Mercedes driver was in contention for a podium finish when he was forced to retire with the race still to run. It was the third non-scoring effort of the season for Russell and gave teammate Kimi Antonelli an 84-point advantage in the Drivers’ Championship.
The new engine was originally scheduled to be introduced later in the season, after the FIA’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities program was used. But the retirement suffered in Malaysia has pushed that change up a few days.
Why Is George Russell Starting From the Back?
With his replacement power unit, Mercedes will exceed his season limit for Russell, which will result in a grid penalty under F1’s 2026 rules. The penalty will vary depending on the parts that are altered, but Mercedes confirmed that Russell will effectively begin at the back of the field.
It’s the worst time for Russell. Singapore’s Marina Bay Circuit is one of the most challenging on the calendar for overtaking, making it much more difficult to catch up with the leader than it was for Kimi Antonelli at Monza earlier this season.
Sam Bloxham/LAT Images
Antonelli was able to get a start at his home race in 19th place after receiving a grid penalty and then sprinting through the pack to take the victory.
But Russell will get another chance to earn points before Sunday’s race. The Singapore weekend is the last Sprint weekend of the 2026 season, and the grid penalty is only for the Grand Prix, not Saturday’s Sprint.
Another Blow to Russell’s Championship Hopes
The penalty puts further pressure on Russell’s hunt for Antonelli. After the Malaysia weekend, the Mercedes teammates are separated by 84 points, leaving Russell with little room for another poor result.
Toto Wolff acknowledged the situation was “particularly frustrating” after Russell’s performance in Malaysia, but Mercedes must now concentrate on providing him with a car that can compete in the pack.
Singapore is a tough test for Russell, but he may have some confidence from his win last season at Marina Bay.
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