Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Russell's Title Hopes Hit by Late Mercedes Power-Unit Failure
George Russell was close to finishing third in the Bahrain Grand Prix.
But with five laps left, his Mercedes car stopped because of a power-unit failure.
Russell had to get out, and he lost the chance to score important points.
He said this kind of problem had happened to him many times this season.
The retirement left him 84 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
Russell said winning the championship now looked very unlikely, but did not say it was impossible.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was also upset about the failure.
He said the team would need to work on getting faster.
George Russell retired from the Bahrain Grand Prix with a power-unit failure five laps from the finish.
He was running third behind race winner Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli when his Mercedes stopped.
Russell said the podium had looked certain and described the retirement as exceptionally disappointing.
His deficit to championship leader Antonelli increased from 66 points to 84.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirmed the failure and said the team needed to improve its speed.
- Who
- George Russell, Mercedes, and team boss Toto Wolff.
- What
- Russell retired after a power-unit failure while running third.
- When
- Five laps from the finish on Sunday.
- Where
- The article identifies the race as the Bahrain Grand Prix but also describes it as being in Malaysia and gives Sepang as its dateline.
- Why
- A power-unit failure stopped Russell's car.
- Race
- Bahrain Grand Prix
- Retirement
- Five laps before the finish
- Russell's position
- Third when his car stopped
- Failure
- Power-unit failure, confirmed by Toto Wolff
- Championship deficit
- Russell's deficit to Kimi Antonelli grew from 66 to 84 points
- Location discrepancy
- The article refers to the Bahrain Grand Prix, but also says Malaysia and gives Sepang as its dateline.