George Russell says Mercedes power issue caused Belgian GP collision
Sky Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 19, 2026, 3:38 PM
Last updated Jul 19, 2026

George Russell attributed a power issue with his Mercedes for a first-lap collision with Lewis Hamilton during the Belgian Grand Prix. Russell, starting third, lost positions on the Kemmel Straight before making contact with Hamilton, resulting in his retirement from the race. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that the power issue affected all team engines, impacting Russell's performance and leading to a significant drop in championship standings. Russell expressed frustration not only over the incident but also regarding the car's power difficulties, while Hamilton received a five-second penalty from race stewards for the collision.
- •Russell retired after a collision with Hamilton on the first lap.
- •Power issues left Russell vulnerable during the race.
- •Hamilton received a five-second penalty for causing the collision.
- •Wolff stated that the power problem affected all Mercedes engines.
- •Russell dropped 50 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
"George Russell says a power issue with his Mercedes was to blame for leaving him vulnerable to a first-lap collision with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton that took him out of the Belgian Grand Prix.
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