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George Russell’s Hungarian Grand Prix setback: anti‑stall drops him to 21st, recovers to seventh
George Russell qualified sixth on the grid for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix but his Mercedes activated the anti‑stall system at the start, sending him to the back of the field (21st). The engine revved erratically just seconds before the lights went out, and Russell could not control the throttle. He fought back through the pack and finished seventh, gaining six points.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Russell’s team‑mate, secured a podium by finishing third, extending his championship lead. Sergio Pérez started from the pit lane and was the only car directly behind Russell after the first corner. Team principal Toto Wolff expressed strong dissatisfaction, saying the problem stemmed from a new power‑unit and not driver error, and called the string of reliability issues “unacceptable.”
Russell said he is “past the point of disappointment” and will stay positive, noting the car’s race pace was strong. Mercedes is still assessing whether the cracked engine can be repaired without incurring a grid‑penalty, as it was the fourth power‑unit used this season.
Entities
Andrea Kimi Antonelli · George Russell · Hungarian Grand Prix · Kimi Antonelli · Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team · Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team · Mercedes‑AMG Petronas F1 Team · Mercedes‑AMG Petronas Formula One Team · Oscar Piastri · Sergio Pérez · Toto Wolff
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 14 SOURCES] George Russell qualified sixth on the grid for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix. motorsport.nextgen-auto.com · www.vezess.hu · www.f1maximaal.nl · motorsport.uol.com.br · de.motorsport.com · +7 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Russell’s car activated the anti‑stall system at the start, dropping him to the last‑placed position (21st). motorsport.nextgen-auto.com · f1vilag.hu · es.motorsport.com · motorcyclesports.net · autogear.pt · +3 more
- [DISPUTED] Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished third at the Hungarian Grand Prix, extending his championship lead. www.cysnews.cz · motorcyclesports.net · autogear.pt · f1journaal.be · www.intensemans.fr · +1 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The anti‑stall activation was caused by an unexpected surge in engine revs just before the lights went out. de.motorsport.com · es.motorsport.com · motorcyclesports.net · autogear.pt · dailycarblog.com · +3 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Sergio Perez started from the pit lane and was the only car behind Russell after the first corner. motorsport.nextgen-auto.com · f1vilag.hu · es.motorsport.com · motorcyclesports.net · autogear.pt · +2 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the anti‑stall problem was due to a new engine, not driver error. motorsport.uol.com.br · f1vilag.hu · motorcyclesports.net · autogear.pt · www.intensemans.fr · +2 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Russell finished the Hungarian Grand Prix in seventh place. motorsport.nextgen-auto.com · de.motorsport.com · motorcyclesports.net · es.motorsport.com · autogear.pt · +5 more