George Russell could once again be watching the start from the back of the grid. After the penalty he received in Singapore, the Mercedes driver expects to receive another one in Las Vegas next month. This time, it wouldn't just be a matter of repairing a damaged engine: the team reportedly wants to take the opportunity to install an upgraded component using the ADUO system. The upgrade is permitted; Russell, however, could pay the price in terms of grid positions.
The engine upgrade could cost Russell some seats
The Briton confirmed it after his ninth-place finish in Singapore. " It will probably be later in the season. Maybe in Las Vegas ," he explained to Sky Sports.
Mercedes can choose when to serve this penalty, he clarified, and will favor a circuit "that's a little easier for overtaking ." Vegas is therefore the likely location, but the date has not yet been officially confirmed by the team.
To understand this new penalty, we need to go back to the previous one. Russell was initially supposed to receive the new engine component in Austin, where Mercedes was already hoping to introduce its upgrade. But the failure that forced him to retire from the Bahrain Grand Prix, held in Malaysia, disrupted the program. The team had to change his power unit in Singapore, a circuit where overtaking is particularly difficult. Starting from the back of the grid, the Briton limited the damage by climbing to ninth place. This time, Mercedes intends to choose the track.
The aim would be to introduce the improved component within the framework of ADUO, for "Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities." This FIA mechanism allows engine manufacturers deemed to be lagging behind to homologate additional upgrades. The paradox is somewhat amusing: Mercedes dominates the championships, but its internal combustion engine was ranked behind Red Bull 's by the FIA's evaluation. The system therefore opens up a development opportunity for Mercedes, even though the team believes its power unit is already the best. Red Bull , for its part, disputes the FIA 's interpretation . This is a rule intended to reduce the gap, but it mainly adds a new chapter to the technical debates.
But an upgrade doesn't just appear on the grid for free. Teams have a limited number of engine components allowed per season; exceeding the quota results in a penalty. Mercedes therefore has to make a choice: accept the penalty on a circuit where overtaking is still possible, or risk it later in less favorable conditions. The team had hoped to carry out the upgrade in Austin; the mechanical issue in Malaysia forced them to revise their schedule. Reliability has already taken its toll. The ADUO upgrade could add a second.
Las Vegas becomes a logical choice thanks to its long straights and overtaking zones. It's not a guarantee of a comeback, but the circuit seems less punishing than Marina Bay. " We'll choose a slightly easier circuit for overtaking ," Russell summarized . In Formula 1 , even penalties are planned into the calendar.
This decision comes as Russell 's season has taken a serious hit. He trails his teammate Kimi Antonelli , the championship leader, by 102 points with six races remaining. According to Reuters , Antonelli could have the opportunity to clinch the title before Las Vegas, depending on the results of the upcoming races. Russell is therefore faced with two urgent priorities: recovering points and preserving an engine unit that has already been put under strain. The penalty could be imposed at the very moment when his championship hopes are further diminished.
Mercedes also needs to understand why its recent aerodynamic upgrades haven't delivered the expected gains. In Singapore, Russell was running the old setup while Antonelli tested the new package. The team is still searching for the optimal operating window and now needs to develop both the car and the engine in parallel. Russell described the immediate objective as " trying to understand these upgrades ." In a garage that dominated at the start of the season, the motto has become less triumphant: understand, correct, and then move forward.
The Las Vegas penalty remains a calculated gamble, not yet a certainty. Mercedes wants to take advantage of the ADUO (Advanced Driver Development Plan) to improve its engine and choose the least expensive time to implement it. Russell could lose positions at the start, while hoping to make up ground on a track conducive to overtaking. It remains to be seen whether the upgrade will deliver enough performance to justify the price paid. In Vegas, will Russell aim for limited damage… or a spectacular comeback?
🚨 • George Russell will be penalized for his loss at the Las Vegas GP.
The British will be penalized for the time on the circuit where it won the victory in 2024 to implement the engine with the ADUO update.
📰 • @SkySportsF1 pic.twitter.com/ncdFPgkjWv
— Mercedes-ARG F1 🇦🇷 (@MercedesF1ARG) October 14, 2026
