George Russell to Start Singapore GP from Back of Grid After Engine Penalty
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Mercedes driver George Russell has suffered a major setback in his 2026 Formula 1 title campaign after an engine-related penalty forced him to start the Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid.
Russell retired from the Malaysian Grand Prix while running in third place last weekend. His Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli finished second, allowing him to extend his lead in the championship standings to 84 points.
The penalty was triggered because Russell is set to exceed the permitted allocation of power-unit components for the season. While the initial penalty is at least 10 grid places, Mercedes confirmed that the number of components being replaced means Russell will start Sunday’s race from the back.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the team had spent the days following the Malaysian race investigating the issues that affected its performance.
He also described Russell’s penalty as frustrating, particularly after the British driver had been in a strong position before his retirement.
Russell, 28, entered the season as one of the leading contenders for the world championship. However, his campaign has been affected by both performance issues and setbacks, while Antonelli has emerged as a strong title rival.
The Mercedes driver has previously expressed mixed feelings about his championship chances, at times suggesting that the title was out of reach before later regaining confidence. His victory at the Baku street circuit two weeks ago had provided a boost.
The Singapore Grand Prix will take place on the city’s night-time street circuit on Sunday. Before the main race, the final sprint event of the season will be held on Saturday, and Russell will not carry the grid penalty into that race.
Russell can take some encouragement from Antonelli’s experience in Italy. The Mercedes driver had started the Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid under similar circumstances but fought his way through the field to claim victory.
