George Russell was forced to retire during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Mercedes announced. The British driver, who was well positioned for a podium finish, had to stop at the side of the track due to a suspected mechanical issue with the power unit.
Russell, who had consistently run in the top 3 despite changing weather conditions and a delayed start, expressed his disappointment, stating that this failure was a hard blow, especially as it marked his third retirement of the 2026 season.
His teammate Kimi Antonelli finished in second place behind Max Verstappen, thereby extending his championship lead to 84 points. Russell acknowledged that his title chances were now compromised, citing a season marked by events beyond his control.