George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will incur yet another engine penalty in 2026 – the Brit reveals which circuits, amongst others, are being considered for this
It was only at the recent Formula 1 race in Singapore that Mercedes driver George Russell had to start from the back of the grid due to an engine penalty, yet discussions are already underway within the Silver Arrows about where the Briton will serve his next grid penalty.
Background: Although Russell should, in theory, be able to run the new power unit from Singapore until the end of the year, provided no further faults occur, Mercedes has planned an ADUO update for the engine in the coming weeks.
For Russell to benefit from this upgrade, a further engine change would be necessary – and with it, another grid penalty. Speaking to Sky, the Briton himself has already announced that the power unit swap will “perhaps take place in Las Vegas”.
Whilst the change in Singapore was a necessity following an engine failure in Malaysia, Russell emphasises that Mercedes can now decide for themselves where to deliberately accept the next penalty.
“ “And we’ll choose circuits where [das Überholen] it’s a bit easier,” said Russell. Team-mate Kimi Antonelli will also receive a new engine as part of the update – and will therefore also incur a grid penalty.
Both Mercedes drivers to receive update in Austin
The introduction of the update is planned for the upcoming triple-header, meaning it could be as early as the forthcoming Grand Prix in Austin. However, it is unlikely that Mercedes will have both its drivers start from the back of the grid in the same race.
This means that one of the drivers could receive the upgrade earlier than the other. It is already certain, meanwhile, that both drivers will line up at the US Grand Prix in a week’s time with the new chassis update from Malaysia.
Russell used the old package at the last race in Singapore, but according to *auto motor und sport*, spare parts are slowly running out. As a result, following his crash in Saturday’s sprint race, Russell had to continue for the rest of the weekend using parts that had already been in use.
Furthermore, as Mercedes concluded over the Singapore weekend that the update should be faster than the old package, both drivers will now be using it again in Austin.
Deputy team principal Bradley Lord confirmed on the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show that Mercedes will line up in Austin “with both cars in the updated configuration and with the new front wing”.
