The Mercedes driver, George Russell, has been confirmed as the driver who will start from the back of the grid in the new Singapore GP of Formula 1, following his retirement from the race in Malaysia.
Russell was competing in a good position, maintaining third under the safety car, but was forced to stop at the first corner with just five laps to go due to a failure of his engine.
With the mechanical issue detected, it is assumed that Russell’s car will need a new engine for Singapore. Assuming this is the case, the grid penalty becomes inevitable, as the British driver has already used the four engines available for the current season.
The team principal, Toto Wolff, stated that the situation is frustrating for Russell, who really pushed hard in the last race. Wolff assured that the goal now is to provide the driver with the best possible car to fight throughout the race.
Furthermore, Russell finds himself in a difficult position, needing to make up 84 points against his teammate, Kimi Antonelli, who leads the championship. Without the possibility of a new engine that was planned to be introduced later, Mercedes’ hopes will rest on Antonelli to try to gain points in this crucial race.
According to Wolff, after a complicated weekend in Malaysia, the team has been working to identify the causes of the lack of performance. The Singapore GP represents an opportunity to continue working on their strategies and seek solutions. The difference in the characteristics of the circuit could help to better understand the team’s current situation.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
