HAMILTON, LECLERC AND VERSTAPPEN SET FOR BRAZIL GRID DROPS

Hamilton, Leclerc and Verstappen will all start deep in the field Sunday after power unit penalties. Ferrari burned through the ICE allocation on both cars, earning 10-place drops for each driver. Red Bull exceeded the limit on Verstappen's ICE, turbo and exhaust — that's a back-of-the-grid start for the championship leader. Cadillac also fitted Perez with fresh Ferrari components, adding another penalty to the list. Russell had already confirmed a five-place hit for Mercedes.

The regulations stack penalties: first overage draws 10 places, subsequent breaches cost five, and anything past 15 means a back-row start regardless. Verstappen and Hamilton have recent form here — Max won from P17 in 2024 and salvaged third from the pit lane in 2025, while Hamilton carved through the field in 2021 after a DRS infraction and engine swap. Expect chaos on race day. The question is whether Verstappen can extend his points cushion from the tail end of the grid.