Lewis Hamilton has cautioned that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli may accumulate grid penalties later in the 2026 season for exceeding the allocated power‑unit parts.
Ferrari’s Reliability Upset
Hamilton credited Ferrari’s improved durability after the circuit challenges of 2025, saying the team’s “processes and execution” had risen sharply.
He praised the pit crew’s efficiency and the factory’s consistency, adding that these factors were key to the Red Bull‑led performance surge.
Mercedes Under the Microscope
Conversely, Hamilton focused on the class of reliability issues plaguing Mercedes, highlighting that both Russell and Antonelli have each retired due to electronics failures—in Canada and Barcelona respectively.
He hinted that the incidents could trigger penalties once the power‑unit‑component pools thin, stressing that Mercedes could soon face “essentially two battery cells” limits.
Component Usage Snapshot
| Driver | ICE | TC | EX | MGU‑K | ES | CE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Antonelli | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Leclerc | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Hamilton | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Stroll’s Grid Penalty Precedent
At the British Grand Prix, Lance Stroll incurred a 10‑place grid drop for a fifth energy store and control electrics; the penalty only cost him a single starting position due to his 21st‑place provisional ranking.
The incident reminded teams that power‑unit parts can deplete the “pool” and trigger penalties even for teams capable of part rotation.
Pools Drying? The Implication
If Mercedes’ electrical components reach the “do‑not‑reuse” threshold, drivers will have to trade in older units, incurring grid penalties that could surprise championship contenders.
Hamilton emphasized that maximizing the limited battery cells or energy‑store components “will be key for us, even when a win is out of reach.”
With the season still in motion, the prospect of penalised grid starts is a tangible challenge ahead of the remaining races.
"