Mercedes drivers may face grid penalties for power‑unit use, says Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton warned that Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli could receive grid penalties if they exceed the 2026 season’s power‑unit component limits. He pointed to the team’s early‑season reliability problems and contrasted them with the consistency shown by Ferrari.

Russell acknowledged Antonelli’s stronger performance to date and the points gap between them, while stressing his own need to improve. Both drivers noted Ferrari’s rise as a serious challenger in the constructors’ battle, citing the Italian team’s robust reliability and strong results.

Ferrari’s SF‑26 has been praised for its versatility across a variety of circuits, positioning the Scuderia as a major threat to Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren for the remainder of the championship.