F1’s rules stopped Mercedes giving George Russell upgraded engine despite Singapore GP grid penalty

George Russell is set to start the Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Mercedes was unable to provide him with their upgraded ADUO1 engine. This situation arises following his retirement at the Bahrain Grand Prix due to an engine failure, necessitating a new power unit beyond his quota. The FIA had granted Mercedes one engine upgrade this season, but logistical issues prevented the timely availability of the new engine for Russell.

Mercedes faced constraints in building enough ADUO1 engines to supply their customer teams, including McLaren, Alpine, and Williams, simultaneously. As a result, Russell will have to race with the original engine configuration in Singapore, where overtaking is particularly difficult. The team is considering whether Russell should take another grid penalty at the upcoming United States Grand Prix to incorporate the new engine into his pool.