MOTOR RACING: Mercedes glitch ruins Russell's Hungarian Grand Prix

BUDAPEST – Mercedes driver George Russell admitted he is ready for Formula One's summer break after another race was disrupted by technical problems during the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Russell said he has reached the point where he can no longer dwell on the setbacks that have plagued his season. While encouraged by his race pace, he expressed frustration over the growing number of issues that have affected his performances.

The British driver entered the Hungarian Grand Prix as one of the contenders after qualifying sixth, ahead of teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli. However, his race unraveled before the start when his car suffered a technical malfunction, activating the anti-stall system and sending him to the back of the field on the opening lap.

Despite recovering to finish seventh, Russell lost valuable ground in the championship as Antonelli claimed third place on the podium.

Russell explained that his car developed engine issues just seconds before the race began, with the engine failing to respond properly to the throttle despite using a brand-new power unit. He said the recurring problems have been difficult to accept, although he acknowledged the entire Mercedes team shares his frustration.

He added that while mechanical issues can happen to any team, it feels as though they have affected him more frequently than other drivers this season. Russell said he hopes his fortunes improve, noting he has never experienced such a difficult campaign in his Formula One career.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff accepted responsibility for the latest setback, describing the repeated reliability problems as unacceptable. He said the team is working hard to resolve the issues but admitted another technical failure had cost Russell a stronger result in Hungary.

Russell, who was considered a preseason favorite for the championship, now trails Antonelli by 59 points after 11 of the season's 23 races. He has won two Grands Prix this year, while Antonelli has claimed six victories. Russell has also failed to score points in three races, including last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, where he spun out after contact with Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap.

With Formula One now entering its annual summer break until the end of August, Russell said the pause comes at the right time, adding that while he rarely feels the need for a break, this season has made him appreciate the opportunity to reset before the championship resumes. -Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters