George Russell will take a five-place grid penalty in Brazil for a new internal combustion engine, his second power unit hit in four races. Mercedes knew another penalty was coming after the 60-place drop in Singapore — itself triggered by a Malaysia power unit failure — and chose Interlagos as the least painful place to absorb it. Russell cited Hamilton's 2021 charge from tenth to victory as proof Brazil rewards overtaking. The penalty was originally meant to debut Mercedes' new-spec engine, but that upgrade is now on hold. With both championships effectively settled — the drivers' title wrapped and the constructors' fight nearly over — Mercedes won't rush the new power unit. It will only appear if the team is certain it's bulletproof, which may not happen before season's end. For Russell, five spots is manageable, and Brazil's long straights plus DRS zones give him a clear recovery route through the midfield.
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