Hamilton, Leclerc and Verstappen face Brazil grid penalties

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will each take a 10-place grid penalty at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix after the team changed their internal-combustion engines. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen faces a start from the back of the grid after power-unit changes exceeded his season allocation, leaving three leading drivers with penalties for Sunday’s race at Interlagos.

The penalties follow Formula 1’s limits on power-unit components. The first time a driver exceeds the allocation for an element, the rules impose a 10-place drop; further breaches bring additional penalties. If a driver’s total exceeds 15 places, the driver starts from the back of the field. Ferrari’s changes to Hamilton’s and Leclerc’s internal-combustion engines each carry the 10-place penalty.

Red Bull changed components on Verstappen’s car, including the internal-combustion engine, turbocharger and exhaust, according to reports. The changes put him beyond the permitted allocation and result in a back-of-the-grid start. Red Bull confirmed a new power unit had been fitted; the complete engine change was officially confirmed on Saturday after the team broke curfew on Friday.