George Russell entered the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend with a renewed sense of optimism, convinced that Mercedes have finally pinpointed and rectified the technical glitches that have plagued his car’s power unit in recent weeks. The British driver’s confidence comes after a disappointing outing at Spa‑Francorchamps, where he fell 50 points behind championship‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli following a first‑lap collision with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. At Spa, Russell’s race was cut short after contact with Hamilton forced him out of the event on the opening lap.
While the incident itself was a clear setback, Russell believes that underlying power‑unit problems played a significant role in making him vulnerable. Over the course of the two‑day practice weekend, he experienced a noticeable loss of straight‑line speed on the long Spa straight, a symptom he traced back to an intermittent glitch in the engine’s energy‑deployment system.
In addition, the start of the race was compromised by a separate fault that affected all Mercedes‑powered cars, leaving them exposed to rivals behind them. Despite these challenges, Russell is confident that the team’s engineers have gotten to the heart of the issue and have implemented a fix before the race in Budapest.
"We’re pretty confident we have the issues from Spa under control and it should be straightforward to resolve," he said in a post‑Spa interview. "We think we have it sorted, so we’re feeling a lot more positive now." Russell explained that the Spa weekend gave the engineers vital clues about where to focus their investigations. "At first we weren’t sure what was causing it, but the team dug deep and the data from Spa pointed us in the right direction. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack – once you know where to look, the problem becomes visible," he added.
He suggested that the root cause was likely a software bug rather than any fault in his driving style, emphasizing that the loss of power was not a result of how he was handling the W17. The British driver described his season as an "emotional rollercoaster," marked by flashes of brilliance interspersed with reliability setbacks and inconsistent form.
Starting the year as a clear favourite for the world title, Russell has seen his championship hopes waver due to both controllable factors, such as on‑track mistakes, and uncontrollable ones, like the power‑unit failures that have plagued Mercedes this year. He admitted that the mental strain has been the toughest he has faced in his career. "It’s probably the toughest psychological battle I’ve had, because there have been so many ups and downs," Russell said. "Things I can control haven’t gone my way, and things I can’t control have held me back.
But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – I’m proud of my resilience. Three days after Spa I feel positive and excited for the weekend ahead, focusing on future prospects rather than past disappointment." The upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring offers a fresh opportunity. Russell has a strong history at the circuit, having twice stood on the podium and secured his first career pole position there in 2022.
Unlike Spa or Silverstone, the Hungaroring is less dependent on outright power, which could mitigate the impact of any lingering engine issues. Russell hopes to build on the momentum he felt after his Austrian Grand Prix victory three races ago, a win that had restored confidence following a difficult spell. "I felt good momentum coming out of Austria and Barcelona, especially after Monaco," he recalled. "Monaco was a low point, but then I got pole in Barcelona, P2 in the race, pole and win in Austria.
That momentum was halted at Silverstone and Spa, but I hope to continue from where we left off in Austria." Looking ahead, Russell expressed enthusiasm for the Budapest circuit, describing it as one of his favourite tracks and acknowledging the challenge it presents. He noted that the Hungaroring is one of the least power‑sensitive venues on the calendar, meaning that Ferrari, which currently boasts a stronger chassis than power unit, could be a serious contender. "We know it’s one of the least power‑sensitive circuits of the season.
Ferrari have a better chassis at the moment, so they’ll be competitive here. Kimi is also performing superbly every weekend, so it won’t be straightforward, but I’m excited for it," Russell said.
Despite Antonelli’s growing lead in the drivers’ standings, Russell insisted that the championship is still very much open. "We’re not even halfway through the season. It’s been a rollercoaster, but I’m feeling a lot more positive now and I still believe I can win the title," he affirmed. The race weekend schedule is packed with action, beginning on Friday, July 24, with F3 and F2 practice sessions, followed by the first Hungarian GP practice.
Saturday, July 25, features the F3 sprint, the third practice session, and the crucial qualifying session that will set the grid for the Grand Prix. The main event takes place on Sunday, July 26, with support races including the Porsche Supercup and F2 feature race, culminating in the Hungarian Grand Prix itself.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility of a no‑contract subscription. Russell’s team will be hoping that the fixes applied to the power unit will hold up under race conditions, allowing the British driver to translate his renewed confidence into a strong performance at the Hungaroring and keep his championship hopes alive.