Sports · Motorsport · 2 hrs ago
George Russell plans another F1 grid penalty at Las Vegas Grand Prix
Mercedes driver George Russell plans to take another engine-related grid penalty at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November.
He started from the back in Singapore after a power unit change pushed him beyond his season allocation, following an engine failure in Malaysia.
Mercedes has an upgrade opportunity under Formula 1 rules, and the new power unit will also bring a grid drop.
Russell says the team will choose a track where overtaking is easier, and Las Vegas is now the likely choice rather than the United States Grand Prix.
Russell is 102 points behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli with six rounds remaining, leaving him all but out of the title fight.
He says Mercedes’ priority is improving its car and upgrades, after Red Bull showed strong pace in recent races.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled for November 20-22, and Russell says the penalty will come later in the season.
George Russell expects to take another Formula 1 grid penalty at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November.
The Mercedes driver said the penalty will come when he takes an upgraded power unit element, but the team can choose when to introduce it.
Russell said Mercedes would prefer a circuit where overtaking is easier.
He started from the back of the grid at the Singapore Grand Prix after a power unit change and finished ninth.
With six rounds remaining, Russell is 102 points behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship.
- Who
- George Russell, the Mercedes driver.
- What
- He plans to take another grid penalty when he uses an upgraded power unit element.
- When
- Probably at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 20-22.
- Where
- The Las Vegas Grand Prix.
- Why
- The upgraded power unit will trigger a penalty, and Russell said Mercedes can choose a track where overtaking is easier.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Russell suffered a power unit issue at the race and retired late on, according to Sky Sports.
Russell started from the back after a power unit change and finished ninth.
Russell said the next penalty could come later in the season, possibly at Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled, where Russell expects to take the penalty.
- Driver
- George Russell
- Team
- Mercedes
- Next planned penalty
- Las Vegas Grand Prix
- Las Vegas dates
- November 20-22, 2026
- Singapore result
- Ninth, after starting 19th
- Championship gap
- 102 points behind Kimi Antonelli
3 sources
What people are saying
It will probably be later in the season now to be honest - maybe Las Vegas. But it will be there at some point,
Now we have the choice to take it when we wish and we will choose slightly easier tracks [to overtake at].
The goal right now is to try to improve the car. We were very much the dominant team for this whole season,