Hamilton two points from overtaking Verstappen as Brazil engine penalties hit every rival for second

Kimi Antonelli already wrapped up the title in Mexico, but the battle behind him is tight. After 19 of 23 rounds, Antonelli leads Verstappen by 119 points. Verstappen has 261 points, Hamilton 259, George Russell 250 and Charles Leclerc 245. With four races remaining in the season, they are separated by 16 points.

The penalties were set before qualifying had even started. The stewards have imposed a 30-place penalty on Verstappen for using a fifth internal combustion engine, fifth turbocharger and fifth exhaust set, so he will start from the back. GPblog covered the engine change looking at the grid slots for Brazil.

His closest rival was hit as well. Hamilton and Leclerc have each received a ten-place grid penalty for taking a fifth internal combustion engine.

The Ferrari pair and Verstappen will start no higher than 11th on Sunday's race grid. Hamilton also had problems in final practice with smoke in his cockpit during final practice and returned to the pits with 25 minutes remaining.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed the back-of-the-grid start to before final practice. "We will have to take an engine penalty with Max," he said. "He's done a few miracles in the past starting from the back here and we're sure he will do a few more this year."

The driver with the smallest penalty is the one in fourth place. Russell has a confirmed five-place grid penalty for taking a sixth internal combustion engine. That leaves him with a much better chance of starting near the front than Verstappen or either Ferrari driver, while sitting 11 points off second.

Speaking to Formula1.com, the Mercedes driver explained why the team chose Brazil for the change. "We felt like this was a good place to take it," Russell said. "Lewis [Hamilton] had a big grid penalty here a number of years ago and did pretty well."

Both drivers at the top of this fight have come through the field in São Paulo before. In 2021 Hamilton climbed through the field to fifth before winning Sunday's Grand Prix from 10th, having taken another penalty. Verstappen famously won in the wet at Interlagos from 17th place on the grid in 2024, while he came from the pit lane to finish third in the dry last year.

Rain could play a part again as it is forecast during Sunday's Grand Prix. The penalties also matter for the constructors' title, because the double Ferrari penalty improves Mercedes' chances of winning the Constructors' Championship as early as Sunday. The team will become champion if it scores at least three points more than its rivals.

Qualifying on Saturday decides where each driver's penalty is applied from. Verstappen's starting spot is already fixed at the back, so Hamilton needs to finish only one place ahead of him on Sunday to take second in the standings.