British driver George Russell of Mercedes launched a furious attack on his team via radio after retiring from the Belgian Grand Prix, a result that dealt a heavy blow to his hopes of competing for the Formula 1 world championship title.

The British news agency PA Media reported that Russell now trails his young Italian teammate Kimi Antonelli by 50 points, after Antonelli secured his 6th win in the first 10 rounds of the season. Russell's race ended after he collided with his compatriot Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, following an engine problem in the first lap that left him vulnerable to pressure from drivers behind.

In a radio message that was not broadcast during the race, Russell shouted: 'What happened to the battery charging on the straight?' He added: 'I had no battery power on the straight. Guys, this is unacceptable. Completely unacceptable what happened all weekend.'

Russell's participation at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit was affected by a problem in the energy distribution system of his Mercedes car, which contributed to him being half a second slower than Antonelli during qualifying.

Initially, the team told Russell that the problem might be due to his driving style, before backtracking on that explanation after engineers were unable to pinpoint the exact cause. Russell said he 'prays' that Mercedes can find a solution before the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, the final round before the summer break, adding that he has become 'numb to disappointment' after the many mechanical issues he has faced this season.

Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes, responded to Russell's comments saying: 'You have to understand that a driver gets very emotional in such situations, but on the other hand, a Formula 1 driver belongs to an exceptional elite, and it is a matter of pride to drive a Mercedes car.' He added: 'I hope this feeling will subside, and we will try to restore optimism and positivity to him.' He continued: 'All drivers, or at least those I have worked with, have gone through difficult periods, and this happens to any athlete. You have to find the right way to motivate and rebuild him, and George has his own way, and I am certainly trying to help him with that.' He affirmed: 'I have known George for a long time, and I understand his frustration, and the team stands behind him 100 percent.'