Sao Paulo GP grid penalties hit Hamilton, Verstappen and Leclerc
Ferrari pair take 10-place drops while Red Bull driver starts at the back of the grid.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will each drop 10 places at the Sao Paulo GP after engine changes. Max Verstappen starts from the back of the grid following a full power unit replacement.
Key takeaways
- Hamilton and Leclerc each receive a 10-place grid penalty for a new internal combustion engine.
- Verstappen starts at the back of the grid after a complete power unit change.
- Rain is forecast for Sunday's race at Interlagos.
Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen will all serve grid penalties for engine changes at Formula 1's Brazilian Grand Prix. com reported that Ferrari made a planned engine change on both Hamilton and Leclerc's SF-26 following a tough set of Friday practice sessions.
Sky Sports said the Ferrari team-mates will each take a 10-place demotion for using a fifth internal combustion engine, one more than permitted, and will start no higher than 11th on Sunday's race grid.
Verstappen will start at the back of the grid after taking three different fresh engine components on his Red Bull. The three front-runners join George Russell in taking a grid drop this weekend, although the Mercedes driver's is only five places.
Why it matters
Mercedes can clinch the Constructors' Championship on Sunday if they outscore their rivals by three points or more, Sky Sports reported. Ferrari's double 10-place penalty is a boost to Mercedes' hopes.
Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell and Leclerc are covered by just 16 points in the Drivers' Championship standings with four races to go. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports: "We will have to take an engine penalty with Max.
He will start from the back - a position he knows very well here after the last two years. " Rain is forecast for Sunday's Grand Prix, which starts at 5pm live on Sky Sports F1.
What happens next
Formula 1 is in Brazil for the final leg of the triple header with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend. Qualifying takes place on Saturday at 6pm. The race starts on Sunday at 5pm.
By the numbers
Verstappen won at Interlagos from 17th on the grid in 2024 and came from the pitlane to finish third last year. Interlagos is the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace. Frederic Vasseur said the balance was not good.
Grid penalties for Sao Paulo GP
Driver | Team | Penalty | Grid position |
|---|---|---|---|
Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 10 places | No higher than 11th |
Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 10 places | No higher than 11th |
Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Back of grid | Back of grid |
George Russell | Mercedes | 5 places | Not specified |
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