Hamilton and Leclerc face 10-place drops; Verstappen set for back-of-grid start

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc face 10-place grid drops at Sunday's São Paulo Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen is due to start from the back of the field after power-unit changes.

Ferrari exceeded its season allowance for the internal combustion engine (ICE) on both cars, earning 10-place penalties for Hamilton and Leclerc. Red Bull went over its limits for the ICE, turbocharger and exhaust on Verstappen's car, earning him a back-of-the-grid penalty.

A penalty exceeding 15 places sends a driver to the back regardless of qualifying position. Saturday's qualifying will establish the positions from which the penalties are applied; the final grid for Sunday's race will be set afterward.

Hamilton recovered from the back of the grid across the 2021 Sprint and Grand Prix at São Paulo. Verstappen won in 2024 after starting 17th and climbed from the pit lane to third in 2025.