George Russell remains upbeat that Mercedes have finally pinpointed and fixed the power‑unit glitches that plagued his car during the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, just ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. After a disastrous start to the Belgian race – where a first‑lap collision with Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari forced him out and left him 50 points adrift of championship‑leading teammate Kimi Antonelli – Russell believes the incident and his overall under‑performance were largely the result of unresolved energy‑deployment problems. During the two‑day practice session at Spa, Russell experienced a noticeable loss of straight‑line speed on the long lap, a symptom that hinted at a deeper issue with the engine’s power delivery.
On race day, a separate fault affected all Mercedes‑powered cars, compromising their starts and making them vulnerable to rivals behind them. Russell explained that the team’s engineers have now dug deep into the data, identified the root cause – which he suspects is a software bug rather than a driving‑style issue – and applied a fix that should restore the car’s full performance for the upcoming race in Budapest.
"We’re pretty confident we’ve got on top of the issues we had in Spa and it should be easy to resolve," Russell said in a post‑race interview. "At the time we weren’t sure what it was, but the team worked hard, dug deep and finally found the problem. Fingers crossed it’s sorted for this weekend." The Hungarian Grand Prix marks the final event before the summer break, and the Hungaroring is known for being less dependent on outright power compared with circuits like Silverstone or Spa. This should play to Russell’s advantage if the power‑unit issue is truly resolved.
He noted that the track’s twisty layout and relatively short straights reduce the penalty for any lingering straight‑line weakness, giving drivers a better chance to capitalize on chassis balance and driver skill. Russell also reflected on the emotional roller‑coaster of his season. He entered the year as a clear favourite for the title, but a combination of inconsistent form and a series of reliability setbacks for Mercedes has turned the campaign into a psychological battle. "It’s probably the toughest mental fight I’ve had," the 28‑year‑old admitted.
"There have been ups and downs, things within my control that haven’t gone well and external factors that have hampered progress. But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – I’m proud of my resilience." He added that after the disappointment at Spa, he feels a renewed sense of optimism.
"Three days later, I’m positive and excited for the weekend. Racing always offers an opportunity just around the corner," he said. The next opportunity arrives at the Hungaroring, a circuit where Russell previously secured two podiums and his first career pole position in 2022.
While the track does not demand the same level of raw power as Spa, it still rewards precision and consistency – qualities Russell hopes to showcase. Looking back at his recent form, Russell highlighted the momentum he built after his Austrian Grand Prix victory three races ago.
"I felt good momentum coming out of Austria and Barcelona, especially after Monaco was a low point. The pole in Barcelona, the P2 in the race, the pole and win in Austria – that was a strong run. It was halted by Silverstone and Spa, but I hope to continue from where we left off in Austria," he explained. He also commented on the competitive landscape in Budapest.
"Ferrari are close behind with a better chassis than power unit at the moment, so they’ll be strong here. Kimi is performing super well every weekend, so it won’t be straightforward, but I’m excited for the challenge," Russell said.
Despite Antonelli’s growing lead in the championship, Russell insisted the title is still within reach. "We’re not even halfway through the season. It’s been up and down, but I feel more positive now. I can still win the championship," he affirmed.
The schedule for the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend is packed with support series action, including F3 and F2 practice sessions, qualifying, and sprint races, all leading up to the main Formula 1 event on Sunday. Sky Sports will broadcast every session live, and fans can stream the coverage via NOW without a contract. In summary, Russell’s optimism hinges on Mercedes having finally solved the software glitch that hampered his power unit at Spa.
If the fix holds, the Hungaroring could provide the ideal platform for him to regain form, challenge Ferrari, and keep his championship hopes alive as the season heads into its second half.