Russell to start Singapore GP from back of grid in engine penalty blow

George Russell will start the Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid after using more engines than the rules allow.

It is a heavy blow on a street circuit where overtaking is hard work. Russell also arrives as the defending winner in Singapore, after victory there last season.

Formula 1 drivers are limited to four engines for the season. Use more than that allocation, what the paddock calls the engine pool, and the punishment is an automatic drop to the back, according to BBC Sport.

Mercedes had wanted to take the hit in Austin at the United States Grand Prix. A failure in Malaysia wrecked that plan and forced the team to take the penalty in Singapore instead.

The squeeze on parts stretches back to an earlier failure in Bahrain, which left Russell short in his pool for the year, according to Sky Sports. Russell said he expects another penalty later in the season when Mercedes has its upgraded engine ready. Teammate Kimi Antonelli is also likely to drop to the back when that new unit arrives.

Singapore brings a split approach on car specification. Russell will step back to the older version he drove to victory in Azerbaijan. Antonelli will stay with the newer package.

Mercedes brought an aerodynamic upgrade, new bodywork aimed at adding downforce, to Malaysia. It did not bring the step forward the team had hoped for, which explains the rethink for Russell.

The championship maths makes the timing painful for Russell. Antonelli leads him by 84 points after finishing second in Malaysia behind Max Verstappen while Russell retired.

For fans, this means a rare test. Antonelli showed in Italy what is possible from deep in the field, winning from 19th on the grid. Russell must now try something similar on a much tighter track where patience counts for as much as pace.