Russell to take grid penalty when Mercedes unleashes its ADUO power unit upgrade

George Russell has confirmed he will take a grid penalty when Mercedes introduces its upgraded power unit, with the Silver Arrows planning to deploy the new engine at either the Austin or Mexico City round in late October.

Both Mercedes drivers have exceeded — or are expected to exceed — their power unit allocation for the 2026 season. Antonelli triggered his penalty at Monza last weekend, starting from the back of the grid and charging through the field to win from 19th place in what became one of the most remarkable results of the season.

Russell, however, chose not to take his penalty at Monza, explaining that doing so before the engine upgrade arrived would have forced him to absorb a second penalty once the new hardware was fitted. “We’re waiting to take my penalty with the ADUO upgrade,” the Briton said. “Otherwise, if I took it [in Monza], I’d have to take it again. So it made zero sense for me.”

The ADUO — Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities — system grants manufacturers the right to upgrade their power unit based on the internal combustion engine’s relative performance. Despite Mercedes being widely regarded as the benchmark engine supplier, the regulations have permitted the team a single upgrade. Red Bull Ford, ranked as the top engine, is barred from making any such improvements.

Antonelli will also take a further penalty when the new unit is introduced, but because he has already exceeded his allocation, each new component will carry only a five-place penalty rather than the standard ten. “So we’re changing everything now to avoid problems later on,” the Italian said in Monza. “And, as I said before, this is the best track to do it.”

Russell also pointed to a shifting competitive picture ahead of the upgrade window. Ferrari has already introduced two power unit upgrades this season, while Mercedes has used none of its single permitted update. Russell expects the engine hierarchy to shift noticeably once the Silver Arrows finally bring their new specification to the grid.

“I don’t think, as a team, we’re under threat,” he said. “And I think it’ll be very interesting when we bring our upgrades.”