George Russell will start the Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid, a direct consequence of the engine damage he suffered at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was staged at Sepang in Malaysia this year. The Briton has exceeded his season allocation of four power units, triggering an automatic penalty of at least 10 grid places under the regulations. "That is particularly frustrating given the way he drove last weekend," Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said.
The penalty is a heavy blow to Russell's championship position, with the Briton trailing team-mate Kimi Antonelli by 84 points in the drivers' standings. Overtaking is notoriously difficult on the narrow streets of Marina Bay, making it virtually impossible to gain places, so Mercedes will use the weekend to test new technical components and an upgraded aerodynamic package.
