George Russell launches X-rated rant in untelevised Mercedes radio
Mercedes said a software issue caused both cars to lose boost after Turn 1, leaving Russell with no power before his lap-one retirement.
- On Sunday at the Belgian Grand Prix, George Russell retired on the first lap after colliding with former teammate Lewis Hamilton at Les Combes, sending Russell into the gravel.
- Before the collision, Russell struggled with severe power deficits after his battery failed to recharge at Turn 1, leaving him 35% down on energy by the first corner.
- Mercedes deputy technical director Simone Resta explained that a software issue caused cars to hit a harvesting limit at Turn 1, affecting both Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli with boost deficits from Turn 1 to Turn 5.
- Russell, saying he was "numb" to the disappointment, now trails championship leader Antonelli by 50 points following the retirement. The deficit significantly hampers his 2026 title campaign.
- Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur questioned the five-second penalty stewards handed to Hamilton, citing that Lap 1 incidents were previously treated as racing matters. The decision remains contested.
12 Articles
12 Articles
George Russell’s explosive Mercedes team radio after Belgian GP crash revealed
A furious George Russell unleashed an explosive tirade over team radio following his early exit from the Belgian Grand Prix, as previously unreleased audio revealed the full extent of his anger with Mercedes. Russell’s championship campaign took a devastating blow at Spa-Francorchamps, crashing out on the opening lap after a collision with teammate Lewis Hamilton, while title rival Kimi Antonelli capitalised with a commanding victory to double h…
Mercedes's driver ran out of battery on the line, hit Hamilton and called power failure unacceptable.
The Belgian Grand Prix highlighted the difficulties encountered by George Russell with the energy management of his Mercedes W17, a problem that largely contributed to its abandonment from the first lap after his encounter with Lewis Hamilton. If Toto Wolff had already revealed that the two single-seaters had suffered from a power deficit at the exit of La Source, Simone Resta has now provided details on the origin of this anomaly, while acknowl…
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