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F1 Announces Major Punishment for George Russell at Mexican GP
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- F1 Announces Major Punishment for George Russell at Mexican GP
George Russell's Mexican Grand Prix has suffered another setback after the Mercedes driver was slapped with a 10-second time penalty for crashing with Isack Hadjar. It happened on lap one of Sunday's race, as the Red Bull driver spun and fell back into the pack. Russell, who began second to Lewis Hamilton, was then subjected to a stewards' investigation before the penalty was handed down.
The penalty is a major blow for Mercedes, especially for Russell. Kimi Antonelli was in a commanding lead in the drivers' standings when the weekend started, while Russell had to make the best of his chances to postpone his teammate's victory celebrations.
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What Happened Between George Russell and Isack Hadjar?
The incident occurred on the first lap at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Hadjar, who began in seventh place, collided with Russell and spun, dropping several places.
George Russell in the Drivers' Press Conference ahead of the 2026 F1 Grand Prix of Canada.Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
The Red Bull driver was sent tumbling down the order and was then running at the back of the field. The contact was reported by race control, and the stewards investigated Russell's involvement.
Russell was being investigated for the initial contact with Hadjar, and replays revealed the Frenchman spinning after the incident.
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How Will Russell's 10-Second Penalty Affect Mercedes?
The 10-second punishment is another wrinkle in Russell's afternoon. The Mercedes driver had been given a chance to test Hamilton and Ferrari from the front, but the penalty could now put that at risk.
Russell will also need to deal with the repercussions as he attempts to hold on to his spot in the chasing pack. Overtaking opportunities are scarce, and track position is critical on this circuit, making a time penalty a significant expense.
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The first thing on Russell's mind will be to minimize the damage to his race and campaign.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
