Heartbreak struck the Mercedes garage as George Russell saw a guaranteed podium finish evaporate into thin air following a late mechanical failure. Starting from seventh on the grid, the British driver delivered a brilliant recovery drive, initially leaping up to second place on intermediate tyres before Max Verstappen and teammate Kimi Antonelli eventually found a way past.
Maintaining a firm grip on third position as the race headed into its closing stages, the podium appearance seemed absolute until disaster struck. His Mercedes suddenly lost power behind the Safety Car, forcing him to bring the car to a halt at the pit lane exit with only a handful of laps remaining. Marking his third retirement of the season, the untimely failure transformed what should have been a minor points deficit into a devastating blow to his championship ambitions.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, a visibly deflated George Russell could only express ironic amusement at his ongoing run of misfortune. As reported by Speedcafe, he admitted the situation had surpassed ordinary disappointment. "You’ve almost got to laugh. It’s beyond disappointment," George Russell stated. He noted that while a solid podium had looked certain, recurring reliability issues meant he was unfortunately well accustomed to dealing with such post-race feelings.
The retirement allowed Kimi Antonelli to cruise home to a runner-up finish, extending his championship lead at the summit of the standings to 84 points with seven rounds left on the calendar. The setback is a severe psychological blow, arriving just a week after George Russell had successfully sliced the gap down to 66 points by winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Assessing his dwindling title chances, George Russell conceded that a miraculous turnaround would now require a monumental shift in fortune.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that the retirement stemmed directly from an issue within the power unit rather than any neutralisation timing. Expressing severe displeasure with both the car's lack of raw pace and the unfortunate deployment of Virtual Safety Cars and Safety Cars, Toto Wolff made his feelings crystal clear. "I’m so massively annoyed. I’m not in a happy place," Toto Wolff declared, highlighting the extensive homework required for the Silver Arrows to recover their competitive edge.
Baca Juga
FIA menyampaikan permohonan maaf resmi menyusul kekacauan prosedur start akibat bug perangkat lunak dalam kondisi hujan deras di sirkuit.
Kegagalan mesin musnahkan peluang podium George Russell, perlebar jarak poin dengan Kimi Antonelli di klasemen Formula 1.
Max Verstappen dan para pembalap F1 mengecam kekacauan start GP Bahrain di Malaysia akibat masalah software power unit regulasi baru 2026.
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