Russell set to start from pit lane in Singapore after taking on new power unit elements
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Mercedes have made the call to take on new power unit elements for George Russell’s W13 for the Singapore Grand Prix – with the Briton set to drop from his P11 grid slot to a pit lane start.
Russell was a surprise Q2 drop out in the treacherous damp conditions of Saturday’s qualifying session, the Mercedes driver dealing with a brake issue on his #63 car to boot, as he was forced to settle for 11th on the grid.
READ MORE: Hamilton escapes penalty for wearing jewellery as Mercedes fined €25,000 for self-scrutineering form ‘error’
And with little to lose, Mercedes opted to kit Russell out with a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, motor generator unit – heat (MGU-H), motor generator unit – kinetic (MGU-K), energy store and control electronics.
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However, with those changes having been made without the approval of the FIA technical delegate, what would usually be a back-of-the-grid start will become a pit lane start, Mercedes having breached the terms of Article 40.3 of the 2022 Formula One Sporting Regulations.
READ MORE: Hamilton says P3 in Singapore ‘incredibly rewarding’, as Russell left ‘bitterly disappointed’ with Q2 exit
Meanwhile, on Saturday night in Singapore, Mercedes were also handed a €25,000 fine for an error on their self-scrutineering form which claimed that Lewis Hamilton – who will start the race from P3, behind Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez – was not sporting his nose stud, with Hamilton himself escaping sanction.