Sao Paulo GP grid penalties: Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc to drop down Interlagos grid
Both Ferrari drivers to take 10-place demotions, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen to head to back of grid; George Russell already has penalty; rain forecast for race day; <strong>watch Sao Paulo GP Qualifying at 6pm on Saturday and the race at 5pm on Sunday live on Sky Sports F1</strong>
Ferrari team-mates Hamilton and Leclerc will both take 10-place demotions for the use of fifth international combustion engines this season, one more than is permitted. They will start no higher than 11th on Sunday's race grid.
And Verstappen will start at the back of the 22-car grid after taking three different fresh engine components on his Red Bull.
The three front-runners join George Russell in taking a grid drop this weekend, although the Mercedes driver's is only five places.
Ferrari's double 10-place penalty is a boost to Mercedes' hopes of clinching the Constructors' Championship on Sunday. The Silver Arrows will become champions if they outscore their rivals by three points or more.
Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell and Leclerc are in a close fight for second place in the Drivers' Championship and are covered by just 16 points in the standings with four races to go.
Rain is forecast for Sunday's Grand Prix, which starts at 5pm live on Sky Sports F1.
Confirming Verstappen's back-of-the-grid start before final practice got under way, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports : "We will have to take an engine penalty with Max. He will start from the back - a position he knows very well here after the last two years.
"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."
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.
Saturday November 7 5pm: Sao Paulo Grand Prix Qualifying build-up 6pm: SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING 8pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook
Sunday November 8 3.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up 5pm: THE SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX 7pm: Chequered Flag: Sao Paulo GP reaction 8pm: Ted's Notebook
Formula 1 is in Brazil for the final leg of the triple header with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW
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