No grid penalty for Russell in Baku, but there are reliability concerns

George Russell will receive a new power unit in his car in Baku at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver will not receive a grid penalty for the change, but there are still concerns about their engine reliability.

The Australian Grand Prix came to an abrupt and spectacular end for Russell. On lap 18, flames erupted from his Mercedes, meaning the Briton had to retire early after a promising start. It was Mercedes' first mechanical failure this season, although customer teams McLaren and Aston Martin had engine problems before.

The cause of the problems was unclear for a long time. At Mercedes' factory, however, they are now a little wiser: according to Motorsport.com, the ignition was caused by one of the six cylinders in the engine failing. However, it raises completely new questions again, as the team does not know what caused this failure.

Many engine problems in the first few races

So in Baku, Russell will put a completely new power unit in his car. But as it is only the second power unit he has used this season, the Mercedes driver will not face a grid penalty. It is possible that a new hybrid system will also be fitted. For now, it is unclear whether that will be necessary.

In the first three races of the season, the number of engine problems has been remarkably high. Charles Leclerc crashed out in Bahrain with a problem that team boss Frederic Vasseur said was unprecedented. Nico Hulkenberg saw his Ferrari engine stall immediately after the Australian Grand Prix. Nyck de Vries had to watch the final free practice in Saudi Arabia from the sidelines as he also needed a completely new power unit. This makes Renault the only engine supplier that has not yet experienced any problems this season.