Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen set for Brazil GP grid penalties

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are set to join George Russell in taking Formula 1 grid penalties at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. 

Ferrari is set to change engine components in Hamilton’s SF-26 after the team suffered its weakest performance on a Friday of the season at Sao Paulo, with the Italian outfit appearing to be the fourth-fastest team in both short and long runs. 

It is understood Ferrari has taken the decision to take the penalty in Brazil after its poor start to the weekend, and with the prospect of uncertain weather affecting the rest of the weekend at Interlagos. 

At this stage it is not clear how many places Hamilton will drop for Sunday’s race as Ferrari is yet to disclose the exact components that have been changed on his power unit. 

Hamilton famously battled back from a grid penalty to win the 2021 Sao Paulo Grand Prix as he charged from 10th to first in Sunday's race, having recovered from the back of the grid to fifth in the sprint. 

A 10-place penalty is triggered automatically for the first additional element introduced after the permitted number of power unit components is exceeded in a season. 

Ferrari could yet opt to make wholesale power unit changes and give Hamilton an entirely new set of fresh components in his pool, which would result in a back-of-the-grid start. 

That appears to be the approach taken by Red Bull, with Verstappen set to start the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from the back of the grid. 

According to De Telegraaf, Verstappen’s Red Bull team has elected to make engine component changes that will see the four-time world champion drop to the back. 

On Friday, Mercedes confirmed that Russell would be serving a five-place grid penalty for taking on a fresh engine in Brazil. 

It has been suggested that Charles Leclerc may serve a grid penalty at the next race, the Las Vegas Grand Prix.