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George Russell was forced to start the Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid after taking an entirely new power unit during the Marina Bay weekend.
Mercedes' initial plan was for Russell to serve that penalty at the United States Grand Prix next week, where he was slated to receive an upgraded internal combustion engine. However, an issue in Malaysia forced a change of plans, meaning Russell took the penalty in Singapore while remaining on the older-spec unit.
Ahead of the Singapore weekend, speculation suggested Russell might take penalties in back-to-back rounds, allowing him to run the upgraded engine at the earliest opportunity in Austin. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, however, the Briton clarified that he does not expect to introduce a new engine before the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he would take a second grid drop of the season.
"Now it will probably be later in the season, most likely in Las Vegas. It'll be somewhere around there. We can now choose when to take the penalty and we'll opt for a track where overtaking is easier," Russell explained.
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