BUDAPEST
Mercedes has confirmed that George Russell will use a new power unit for the Hungarian Grand Prix after suffering a late stoppage in qualifying.
Russell finished seventh on the grid at the Hungaroring, but his final fast lap was ruined by a sudden water leak. He reported that it felt like a water pistol was spraying liquid directly onto his tyres, which completely destroyed his grip and lap time.
After noticing a drop in water pressure, the team told him to stop his car safely on the track once the session ended. Mechanics inspected the vehicle and decided to swap out his power unit for race day. This is his fourth engine of the year, meaning he stays within his allowed limit and avoids any grid penalties.
In fact, Russell will actually move up one spot on the starting lineup because his teammate, Kimi Antonelli, received a three-place penalty for ignoring yellow flags.
Despite missing out on pole position, Russell feels confident about the team’s long-term pace. He noted that while single-lap speed has been difficult to find all weekend, the car feels much stronger on long race runs.
Mercedes hopes this engine swap will fix the problem completely. Both drivers are now preparing to charge through the field and fight for strong points on Sunday afternoon.
