Former Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok has cautioned that unexplained power unit problems at Mercedes could lead to psychological strain for George Russell. The comments followed Russell's early exit from the Belgian Grand Prix.
Chandhok spoke on the Sky Sports F1 Show about the impact of the issues on Russell. He noted that the 28-year-old driver faced a lack of electrical deployment at the start of the race, which left him vulnerable before a collision with Lewis Hamilton ended his day in the gravel.
Kimi Antonelli, Russell's Mercedes team-mate, secured his sixth win of the 2026 season at the event. Russell now sits third in the drivers' championship, 50 points behind the leader.
Chandhok described the situation as creating an "irrational paranoia" for drivers when they cannot match their team-mates on straights despite similar corner speeds. He added that the problem can lead to doubts about team support in a high-pressure environment.
The Belgian Grand Prix marked the tenth round of the season.
