Mechanical Setback for Mercedes
George Russell will start the Hungarian Grand Prix with a fresh power unit after a water leak forced him to stop his car at the end of Q3 on Saturday. Mercedes identified a crack in the engine, which the team attributes to Russell running over the exit kerb at Turn 4 during his final qualifying run.
The change marks Russell's fourth power unit of the 2026 season. Because this replacement is the same specification as his previous unit and remains within the season-limit of four, he will not incur a grid penalty. He is set to start the race from sixth position, benefiting from a three-place penalty handed to his teammate, Kimi Antonelli, for speeding.
Ongoing Reliability Concerns
This incident is the latest in a series of technical hurdles for Mercedes. Russell, currently trailing Antonelli by 50 points in the championship, has faced significant frustration with engine-related issues, including a software bug in Belgium that hindered his straight-line speed and resulted in a collision with Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes technical director Simone Resta confirmed that the software issue has been resolved for the Budapest weekend. Addressing the performance gap between the two drivers, Resta noted that Antonelli had been running on a fresher power unit during recent rounds, a disparity that is expected to balance out as the season progresses.
Race Outlook
Despite the engine change, Russell remains cautious about his prospects for Sunday. While he noted that the team showed strong race pace on Friday, he admitted that overtaking at the Hungaroring will be difficult. The team is now banking on the balance between their qualifying setup and race performance to help Russell climb the field.
The Hungarian Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 PM, with live coverage beginning at 12:30 PM on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event.