Hamilton used wet São Paulo qualifying to test Ferrari after further power-unit changes

Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday's São Paulo Grand Prix from P20 after multiple grid penalties. He said he used Saturday's rain-hit qualifying as a test, checking that the engine was working and the car felt good.

Hamilton had started Saturday with a 10-place grid penalty after an internal-combustion-engine change. Problems in final practice then forced Ferrari to change further power-unit elements before qualifying, bringing additional penalties.

Hamilton said he had only a few laps in the wet session because he was saving tyres for Sunday's potentially wet 71-lap race. He wished he could still be out battling, but said: “I love racing in the rain.”

Asked whether he could charge through the field from P20, Hamilton replied: “That’s what we’re trying to do, yeah.”