George Russell is not expected to start from the back of the grid at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Mercedes changed its power unit strategy ahead of Baku. A penalty had been considered highly likely in recent weeks, but the team now intends to extend the mileage of Russell’s existing components until the United States Grand Prix, where the new ADUO power unit specification is expected to become available.
The original plan had even shaped Mercedes’ approach at Monza. There had been talk of an informal exchange of favours between its two drivers, with Kimi Antonelli helping Russell with a tow during Italian Grand Prix qualifying and Russell potentially returning the favour in Azerbaijan, where he was expected to introduce a new power unit and serve the resulting grid penalty. That scenario has now changed.
Mercedes delays George Russell’s Baku power unit penalty
Mercedes has decided to try to extend the mileage of the power units currently available in George Russell’s pool until the United States Grand Prix at Austin in late October.
The objective is to reach that point without introducing another unit in Baku. If successful, Russell would then be able to take his grid penalty at the same time as Mercedes introduces its upgraded ADUO specification, rather than adding another standard-specification power unit beforehand.
The German manufacturer expects the evolution of its internal combustion engine to be available by Austin. Until then, the upgraded specification is not expected to be used by Mercedes customer teams either, including McLaren.
That makes mileage management the priority. Mercedes wants to extract as much life as possible from the components already available to Russell and avoid forcing him into a recovery race on the streets of Baku.
The wider significance of the upgrade is particularly interesting because Mercedes already has one of the strongest overall packages of the 2026 season, despite still having ADUO development available for its power unit.
Russell could combine his penalty with the ADUO upgrade
If Mercedes can follow the revised plan, Russell could effectively concentrate the sporting cost of introducing new components into a single weekend. Instead of taking one penalty now and potentially another when the upgraded specification arrives, the Briton would wait and combine the two requirements.
The approach is different from the one Mercedes was forced to adopt with Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli already served a grid penalty at Monza after taking his fifth power unit of the season. That engine did not yet contain the ADUO upgrade, meaning the championship leader will in all likelihood have to start further down the grid again once Mercedes introduces the new specification.
The difference between the two strategies is largely explained by the condition of the components available to each driver.
Antonelli’s engine problems leave him with a smaller usable pool
Several power unit problems suffered by Antonelli during the season caused irreversible damage to components, significantly reducing the number of elements Mercedes could continue to use later in the campaign.
Russell has been more fortunate. A number of units affected by problems were recovered and remain available for use, giving the British driver a considerably healthier reserve of components than his team-mate.
That extra flexibility has allowed Mercedes to change its plans and attempt to reach Austin without exceeding Russell’s allocation in Azerbaijan.
The strategy could prove especially valuable at a circuit such as Baku. Although its exceptionally long main straight can create overtaking opportunities, starting from the rear would still make Russell’s weekend significantly more complicated at a stage when every result matters.
Charles Leclerc’s Baku engine situation remains uncertain
While Mercedes now has a clearer picture for Baku, Ferrari still faces uncertainty over Charles Leclerc’s power unit situation.
Ferrari had not planned to take an engine penalty in Azerbaijan after introducing its ADUO 2 specification at Monza. However, Leclerc’s heavy accident at the exit of the Parabolica during the opening laps of the Italian Grand Prix complicated those plans.
The damage to the SF-26 prompted Ferrari’s engineers to take a cautious approach. The team elected not to use the crash-affected ADUO 2 power unit at the following race in Madrid while further checks were carried out.
Those inspections have continued, with the final decision expected in Baku.
Ferrari to test Leclerc’s Monza ADUO 2 engine in practice
Leclerc is expected to begin free practice in Azerbaijan using the same ADUO 2 power unit that was fitted to his Ferrari at Monza.
It will be an important test. If all parameters confirm that the unit suffered no lasting consequences from the accident, Leclerc could continue the weekend without needing another new engine.
If the checks reveal any problem, however, Ferrari would have to install another ADUO 2 power unit, making a grid penalty unavoidable.
The decision is particularly significant given the unique power and energy-management demands of the Azerbaijan circuit. Ferrari is already preparing for a demanding Baku energy test under the FIA’s 2026 Straight Mode configuration, making reliability and power-unit performance especially important.
Different engine strategies could shape the Azerbaijan GP
Mercedes and Ferrari therefore approach Baku with two very different power unit questions. Mercedes is deliberately trying to avoid changing Russell’s engine, preserving the penalty until its more powerful ADUO specification is ready later in the season.
Ferrari, meanwhile, must determine whether Leclerc’s Monza engine remains suitable for competitive use after one of the heaviest accidents of his season.
If Mercedes succeeds with its mileage plan, Russell will keep his normal starting position in Azerbaijan before taking his new specification later. Antonelli, despite already serving one engine penalty at Monza, is likely to face another grid drop when he eventually receives the ADUO unit.
For Leclerc, the answer should become clearer during Friday practice in Baku, when Ferrari will finally be able to evaluate the crash-affected ADUO 2 power unit under track conditions.
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