Mercedes has confirmed a power unit change for George Russell following an issue during the Qualifying session at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix. The British driver’s car stopped on track at the end of Q3 due to a detected loss of water pressure, which affected his final lap and left him seventh on the grid.
Russell described the problem as feeling like “a water pistol being sprayed at the tyres,” which disrupted his performance in the decisive moments of qualifying. As a precaution, Mercedes instructed him to stop on track immediately after his last flying lap, prompting a technical inspection of the car.
Following the inspection, Mercedes decided to replace Russell’s power unit with a new one for race day. This change involves moving to his fourth power unit of the season but remains within the allowed allocation, meaning no grid penalty will be applied. The replacement is a like-for-like swap, aimed at resolving the issue without affecting his starting position.
Meanwhile, Russell’s Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli will face a three-place grid penalty due to a yellow flag breach during Q3. This separate penalty will affect Antonelli’s starting position independently of Russell’s power unit change.
The incident highlights the challenges teams face in managing reliability and performance during qualifying sessions, where even minor technical issues can impact lap times and grid positions. Mercedes’ decision to change the power unit without incurring a penalty reflects the careful balance teams maintain to comply with regulations while addressing technical setbacks.
Russell’s seventh-place qualifying position, combined with the power unit change, means he will maintain his grid spot without additional sanctions. The team’s update clarifies the nature of the issue and the steps taken to ensure the car is ready for race day.
This development at the Hungaroring offers insight into how teams handle unexpected technical problems during critical sessions, ensuring drivers can compete without compromising the rules. The power unit change is a strategic move within the regulatory framework, aiming to safeguard performance and reliability for the race.
