Mercedes has announced that George Russell will receive a grid penalty for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix.

Mercedes has confirmed that Russell will start from the back at Marina Bay this Sunday—a circuit where he claimed victory last year.

Team principal Toto Wolff remarked in Mercedes’ Singapore preview: “George faces the additional hurdle of a power unit penalty, meaning he will start from the back of the grid on Sunday, following the engine failure in Malaysia.

“This is particularly disappointing considering how well he performed last weekend and the results he was aiming for.

“Regrettably, these situations are part of the sport, and our focus now is on providing him with the best possible car and chances to fight his way back through the field.

“We need to make the most of this final sprint weekend of the year, continue our learning, and achieve the best results we can with both cars. Singapore will be a crucial test of our understanding and resilience as a team.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes, race start

This situation is particularly challenging for Russell as he attempts to overcome an 84-point gap to his championship-leading teammate Kimi Antonelli with only seven races remaining.

Additionally, it means he is likely to miss out on the updated Mercedes engine under the Additional Development and Upgrades Opportunities system that the team had intended to provide him later in the season.

Thus, Mercedes’ hopes now rest on Antonelli to steer the team back to victory, following Red Bull’s Max Verstappen's dominant performance from pole at Sepang with the Italian finishing in second.

“Malaysia was undoubtedly a very tough weekend for us,” Wolff added. “We have spent the days since then diligently working to comprehend why our performance was not where it needed to be.

“We’ve pinpointed several areas requiring further investigation, but F1 doesn’t provide simple answers, and we need more data before drawing firm conclusions.

“Singapore offers us an immediate chance to continue that analysis. The circuit's characteristics are quite different, which will aid us in forming a clearer understanding of our standing.

“That’s why we will assess both the latest update package and our previous specifications throughout the weekend to ensure we fully grasp the direction we need to pursue.”