GEORGE RUSSELL TO START SINGAPORE GP FROM BACK OF GRID AFTER FRESH PENALTY

George Russell's already slim title hopes appear fainter after a back-of-the-grid penalty was confirmed by Mercedes.

© XPB Images

George Russell is to start this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid after his costly power unit failure in the Bahrain GP. 

Behind the safety car in Sepang, Russell pulled the Mercedes off to the side of the track with a power unit failure - the second of the season to strike the Briton following the Canadian GP. 

Russell was already set to take one grid penalty in the closing stages of the season when Mercedes introduced its ADUO-boosted engine upgrade, believed to be in the United States GP in Austin. 

A team spokesman has confirmed to RacingNews365 that Russell will be taking a new power unit in Singapore - and will incur the back-of-the-grid penalty. 

At this stage, it is still to be confirmed if the ADUO-boosted engine could be fast-tracked into the W17 for Russell or if this new power unit he will take will be of the current specification. 

If the ADUO-boosted engine is brought into Russell's pool, it would negate the need for a "double whammy" penalty of Russell taking a back-of-the-grid start for his old-spec engine, and then taking another such penalty for the ADUO upgrade.

Russell's penalty will be served in the grand prix itself on Sunday and not during the Sprint race, where he will start where he qualifies, save any in-weekend penalties for himself or other drivers, which either demote or promote him, respectively.

Team-mate Kimi Antonelli took his own batch of fresh components at the Italian GP, storming from 19th on the grid to win, although overtaking on the streets of Marina Bay is a far tougher prospect.

Following the power unit failure in Sepang, coupled with Antonelli scoring 18 points for second place, the points gap between the Mercedes team-mates opened to 84. 

Antonelli cannot win the title in Singapore, with 150 points remaining after the weekend, but if he were to score a maximum of 33 points through victories in the Sprint and grand prix, with Russell not scoring a point, the Italian could be crowned world champion at the United States GP in Austin.

- Jake Nichol