Mercedes confirm grid penalty for George Russell in Singapore

Mercedes have confirmed that George Russell will receive a grid penalty at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

The Briton will take a new power unit following the failure that forced him to retire from the race in Malaysia. Russell was running third with just five laps remaining when the problem brought his race to an early end.

The change means he will exceed the permitted allocation of power unit components for the season, resulting in a grid penalty. Mercedes have confirmed that Russell will start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid.

The penalty comes at a particularly difficult moment for Russell, who is already 84 points behind his Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli with seven rounds remaining.

Singapore is also a notoriously difficult circuit for overtaking, meaning Russell faces a major challenge if he is to fight his way back into the points.

Russell won last year’s Singapore Grand Prix from pole position, but this time he will have to recover from the back of the field.