Mercedes has revealed that George Russell was compelled to cease on monitor attributable to a water leak throughout qualifying for the F1 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Russell’s F1 struggles continued in Budapest, the place he might solely qualify seventh, however his Mercedes broke down worryingly on monitor on the way in which again to the pits on the finish of Q3.
It was later revealed that Russell had hit a water leak when he hit the curb at Flip 4, inflicting him to cease.
Mercedes believes kerb driving is the trigger.
“We misplaced water strain and there was a water leak. After we stopped on monitor there was a number of water leaking out of the automotive,” Russell informed Sky Sports activities F1 after qualifying.
“I do not know the place it got here from. Effectively, it will not have an effect on something tomorrow.”
Mercedes crew principal Toto Wolff stated: “George was unfortunate with some issues like a water leak. It was an amazing session.”
“The leak occurred when he drove over the curb.”
Mercedes have confirmed they’ve opted to alter Russell’s energy unit, shifting the 28-year-old Briton to his fourth unit this season.
There isn’t a penalty for this since Russell has no allowed assignments in 2026.
Nevertheless, if at any level Russell requires a fifth ICE, an computerized grid descent shall be triggered.
Each Mercedes drivers are already fitted with a fourth energy unit, so penalties are prone to be imposed at some stage after the summer time break.
Russell shouldn’t be overly optimistic about his probabilities of progressing on the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Russell scheduled to start out seventh in Hungary
“Yesterday we have been most likely additional alongside, however we had the strongest race tempo. Individuals are likely to say it isn’t a automotive downside, it is a tire downside,” he added.
“Time will inform tomorrow whether or not we now have the precise stability between the qualifying set-up and the race set-up.
“You most likely know you may make the automotive sooner in qualifying trim, even on the expense of race efficiency.
“Time will inform tomorrow whether or not we will get that stability proper. Will probably be tough to overhaul. It might have been higher to be greater up.”
Russell heads into the ultimate F1 race earlier than the summer time break with a 50-point lead over Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli within the championship.
Russell began sixth forward of Antonelli, who acquired a three-place grid penalty for not slowing down sufficient attributable to a yellow flag in qualifying.
