Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc Slapped With Massive Grid Penalties for Brazilian GP

Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc have all received massive grid penalties for the Brazilian GP after all three had new power unit elements fitted to their cars, the FIA has confirmed. On top of this, Cadillac’s Sergio Perez has also taken a grid drop for Sunday’s race.

Hamilton will take a 10-place grid drop during Sunday’s race as his Ferrari SF-26 has been fitted with a new internal combustion engine, which is his fifth of the year. The FIA regulations only allow each driver to use four engines during a season, and exceeding this leads to a 10-place grid drop. His teammate, Leclerc, will also take the same penalty and drop 10 places on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Verstappen will start from the back of the grid after Red Bull has decided to fit multiple new power unit elements to his RB22. The 29-year-old will use a new ICE, turbocharger and exhaust, all of which exceed his allotted quota. If a driver incurs a penalty exceeding 15 places, they are required to start the race at the back of the field regardless, according to the regulations.

Verstappen will also use a new power unit ancillary component, but this is the sixth and final one of his quota, and does not add to his penalty.

Perez will also start the Brazilian GP from the back of the grid, as Cadillac has also fitted his power unit with a new ICE, turbocharger and MGU-K.

George Russell Also Has a Five-place Grid Drop at the Brazilian GP

George Russell is another driver who will serve an engine penalty in Brazil, as was already reported at the start of the weekend. The Mercedes driver’s W17 has also been fitted with a new ICE, but since this is the sixth one for Russell this year, he only gets a five-place drop for this infringement, rather than the 10-place drop like Hamilton and Leclerc’s.

This is because the FIA regulations say that the first time a driver exceeds their ICE quota and takes a fifth engine, they will be given a 10-place grid drop. But any further addition to this will result in a five-place drop only.

Hence, Russell will start Sunday’s race five places lower than where he qualifies on Saturday.

Both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen Drove Iconic Recovery Races in Brazil Previously

Both Hamilton and Verstappen will have to take inspiration from themselves as they will need to cut through the field at the Brazilian GP to secure a respectable result amid their engine penalties. Verstappen especially will need to do something special to keep his seven-race podium streak going as he starts from the back of the grid.

Hamilton started the 2021 Brazilian GP Sprint from last after being disqualified from qualifying for the shortened race. This race used to decide the starting grid for the main race back then, and the seven-time world champion managed to get up to P5 after a brilliant recovery drive.

But Hamilton also had a five-place engine penalty, meaning he started the race in 10th. But the Briton completed a brilliant recovery drive to secure the win over Verstappen on Sunday.

Verstappen himself qualified in P12 following a difficult qualifying in Brazil in 2024, and also had a five-place engine penalty that put him in P17. But an incredible drive and some good luck meant he cut through the field in wet conditions and took the race win.

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