Russell to start Singapore Grand Prix from back of grid after power-unit penalty

Centre · 2Mercedes driver George Russell will start Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid because of a power-unit penalty. 1 2 Centre · 1The penalty stems from last Sunday's race in Malaysia, where Russell qualified eighth and was heading for a podium finish when an engine failure forced him to retire from third place with five laps remaining, according to the BBC. 1 Centre · 1Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that Russell needs a new power unit this weekend, which puts him over the limit on several components and means a penalty in Singapore. 1

Centre · 1The BBC reports that the penalty applies to Sunday's Grand Prix and not to Saturday's sprint, the sixth and final sprint event of the season. 1 Centre · 2Wolff called the penalty "particularly frustrating given the way he drove last weekend and the result he deserved to be fighting for", adding that Mercedes' focus is now on giving Russell the best possible car and opportunities to fight back through the field. 1 2 Centre · 2Russell's retirement widened the gap to team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who finished second behind Max Verstappen in Malaysia, from 66 points to 84 points in the drivers' championship. 1 2

Centre · 1Gulf News says the penalty could effectively hand the title to the 20-year-old Italian, and calls Singapore a potential make-or-break race for Russell, with 33 points available on a sprint weekend. 2 Centre · 1The BBC adds that Antonelli won last month's Italian Grand Prix after taking a similar penalty, that this is the latest setback in a season of mechanical issues for Russell, and that Russell won last year's Singapore race. 1 Centre · 1Six or seven races remain, depending on whether F1 gets the security reassurances it needs for Qatar and Abu Dhabi given the war in the Middle East, the BBC reports. 1

Centre · 1Wolff said Mercedes has spent the days since Malaysia trying to understand why its performance was not where it should have been, and that Singapore's different circuit characteristics will help build a clearer picture. 2