Mercedes veteran George Russell: When will the inevitable penalty come?

At Monza, Mercedes star Kimi Antonelli sparked particularly loud celebrations with his victory in front of a home crowd. This was because the championship leader had to work his way up from the back of the field. He started his home race from 19th on the grid after receiving a grid penalty for entering the race with new parts for his power unit that exceeded the permitted allocation.

George Russell, who started from second on the front row, had to settle for second place. The 20-year-old from Bologna’s team-mate will also receive a new power unit this year, which will result in a grid penalty. The big question is when that will happen. And there has already been lively discussion about it.

It would make sense to serve the penalty on a circuit where a comeback is entirely possible. And the race on the Baku street circuit, for example, springs to mind. Russell himself explained on the sidelines of the Madrid event that it would make sense to wait to use the new power unit until the engine update – to which Mercedes is entitled under the ADUO regulation – arrives. However, the upgrade is not expected until the race in Austin at the earliest.

“The penalty will probably come at the same time as the upgrade,” Russell explained when asked about it. “If I’d had the new engine fitted at Monza, that would mean I’d have to take a second penalty – and that makes no sense at all.”

Topic of the week

2027 MotoGP grid: Almost a quarter of the riders are new – implications for SBK

The 2027 MotoGP grid will feature five new regular riders, with at least three of those dropped set to move to the World Superbike Championship. The ones to suffer as a result are Alvaro Bautista and Danilo Petrucci.

Ivo Schützbach

Read More

TV Program

Live

Madrid: Das Rennen Re-Live

FIA Formula One World Championship

13.09.2026 - 17:30