Belgian GP 2026: Russell exit adds Mercedes concern

Reports from BBC Sport and Autosport linked George Russell’s Belgian GP retirement to Mercedes issues, with the Briton still third on 160 points.

George Russell’s Belgian Grand Prix retirement was reported as another blow to his 2026 campaign, with BBC Sport and Autosport linking the Spa setback to ongoing Mercedes problems rather than a confirmed official cause. Russell, a British driver with seven Formula 1 wins from 161 starts, remained third in the drivers' championship on 160 points.

BBC Sport reported that Russell had spoken about a run of problems affecting his season, and another of its reports said the Belgian weekend left him 50 points behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Autosport also reported that Mercedes was still trying to understand energy deployment issues on Russell’s car after Spa.

The latest reported setback increased pressure on Mercedes, the German constructor with 138 wins and eight titles across 19 seasons from 1954 to 2026. Motorsport.com later described Russell as reflecting on a difficult first half of the season after another tough weekend in Hungary, adding to the picture of a campaign shaped by reliability concerns.