George Russell Facing Grid Penalty As Mercedes W14 Fire Cause Is Revealed Ahead Of Azerbaijan GP

Russell will already be on his second engine at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Reports have revealed what caused George Russell's Mercedes W14 to burst into flames at the Australian Grand Prix. 

It was a heartbreaking moment for Russell in Melbourne when his Mercedes engine suddenly burst into flames, forcing him to retire from the race on Lap 18. Initially, Russell had shown promise, starting on the front row alongside Max Verstappen and leading the Melbourne race for a brief period. Unfortunately, his power unit issue put an end to his hopes of a podium finish.

Mercedes team principal and CEO, Toto Wolff, stated that the root cause of the issue was related to a cylinder. However, a thorough analysis was necessary to determine the exact issue.

Recent reports from Auto Motor und Sport reveal that the V6 internal combustion engine and other components, such as the turbocharger and MGU-H, are beyond repair. The cause of the issue was due to a lodged piece of debris in the cylinder, which resulted in the fire.

Mercedes is yet to confirm whether other parts, such as the battery and power electronics, can be saved. In any case, it is certain that Russell will need a new engine for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which will be his second new engine of the season. 

Due to FIA regulations, each driver can use only three power units per season. With Russell moving onto his second engine after just three races, he is now almost guaranteed to face a grid penalty at some point this season.

Mercedes' engine reliability has been questioned earlier this season, with McLaren's Lando Norris encountering a pneumatic problem in his car at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Norris was also forced to switch to his second V6 engine at the second race in Saudi Arabia.

F1 racing will get going again with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 28-30 April.