F1 Singapore GP: Russell to start last after Sepang engine failure
The newsroomUpdated on October 7, 20263 minMercedes confirms George Russell will start the Singapore Grand Prix on 11 October from the back of the grid with a new engine. The sprint is unaffected.
Key point
Russell will start Singapore's race (11 October) last with a new engine, while Antonelli leads the championship by 84 points.
George Russell will start the Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid on Sunday 11 October 2026. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed the Briton will receive a new power unit after his retirement from the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was run at Sepang, and that triggers a grid penalty.
Why Russell starts last
At Sepang, Russell was running third behind team-mate and title rival Kimi Antonelli when his engine failed six laps from the end, on the start/finish straight, behind the safety car. His power unit was already old and he had used all four combustion engines of his annual allocation: fitting a new one brings a grid penalty.
According to The Times, as reported by GPFans, Mercedes could not repair the engine in time for Singapore. Toto Wolff calls the situation particularly frustrating given how well Russell was driving at Sepang.
The sprint is unaffected
The penalty applies only to Sunday's race. Singapore hosts the last of the season's six sprint weekends, so Russell can still fight in the sprint race on Saturday 10 October before having to work his way through the field on Sunday, on a 4.9 km street circuit where overtaking remains difficult.
- Friday 9 October: first practice and sprint qualifying
- Saturday 10 October: sprint race and qualifying
- Sunday 11 October: race
A risk of a double penalty in the United States
Mercedes had planned to get through Singapore without a penalty and take one at the United States Grand Prix, the next race, to fit the upgraded engine there. Deputy team principal Bradley Lord now admits there may be a double-whammy effect: Mercedes could bring that engine forward to avoid two penalties in a row. The team must also assess the state of its stock of low-mileage power units.
The championship picture
Antonelli leads Russell by 84 points, with seven rounds to go. At Sepang, Mercedes introduced its first major updates since the Canadian Grand Prix. Toto Wolff wants to understand their results: the team will evaluate both the latest update package and the previous specification in Singapore.
The editorial team
Frequently asked questions
Why is George Russell getting a grid penalty in Singapore?
His engine failed at Sepang. He had already used all four combustion engines of his season allocation, and fitting a new one triggers a grid penalty.
Does the penalty apply to the sprint?
No. It applies to Sunday's race on 11 October, not to the sprint race on Saturday 10 October.
Where does the championship stand?
Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell by 84 points, with seven rounds to go.
Sources
- RacingNews365 — Mercedes confirms extra challenge for Russell in Singapore
- GPFans — grid penalty confirmed for Russell in Singapore
- FormulaPassion — Wolff confirms Russell starts from the back
- RaceFans — 2026 Singapore Grand Prix session times
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
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