George Russell's gigantic penalty confirmed after Mercedes perform engine change
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George Russell has been handed a 40-place grid penalty after Mercedes introduced four additional power unit elements at the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix. The stewards confirmed the decision on Friday evening, with the sanction applying to the next race in which the British driver participates, which is Sunday's Singapore GP.
The ruling concerns Russell’s fifth internal combustion engine, fifth turbocharger, fifth exhaust set and fourth MGU-K. Each of those additional elements carries a ten-place grid penalty in this case, resulting in the combined 40-place drop announced by the stewards. The document identifies the affected entry as car 63.
The decision followed a report from the FIA’s technical delegate, referenced as document 19. Having considered that report, the stewards determined that Mercedes had breached Articles B8.2.2, read together with B8.2.3, of the FIA Formula 1 Regulations. The penalty was imposed under Article B8.2.8.
“The use of each additional element in this case carries a 10 grid place penalty therefore there is an accumulation of 40 places,” the stewards explained. That means the total reflects four separate component penalties, rather than a single 40-place sanction for one power unit element.
Russell had set the pace in practice in Singapore and the penalty was widely expected.
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