Hamilton, Leclerc and Verstappen to take grid penalties at Sao Paulo

Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc will each take 10-place grid penalties at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen will start from the back of the grid; Mercedes driver George Russell has a five-place drop.

The penalties stem from teams exceeding the allowed number of engine parts for the season. Red Bull discovered problems with Verstappen's power unit after Friday practice and will fit an all-new engine; Ferrari has fitted new internal combustion engines for both Hamilton and Leclerc.

The Ferrari drivers receive larger drops because it is the first time they have exceeded the season limit of four engines, while Russell had already gone beyond that threshold. Russell's sanction is therefore smaller than Hamilton's and Leclerc's.

Verstappen will begin from the rear after his team elected to change his unit following Friday's issues. He previously won the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix from 17th on the grid after taking an engine penalty in a wet race.

Mercedes driver George Russell will take a five-place grid penalty and joins the group of drivers penalised for using too many engine parts. Live commentary will be provided on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, with live text updates available on the BBC Sport website and app.

F1 announced on Saturday that Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit had extended its contract to host a grand prix until 2035. F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said: "Brazil is an important part of F1's history and our future, and I am delighted that this five-year extension will see us continue racing in Sao Paulo until 2035. "The passion of our Brazilian fans is extraordinary, and every time we return to Interlagos we feel their energy in the grandstands and in the city of Sao Paulo. "The continued success and excitement surrounding the event shows why it holds such a special place on our calendar, and this agreement underlines our long-term commitment to Brazil."

Those penalties will determine the revised starting order for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, with rain predicted overnight from Saturday into Sunday and forecasts saying it could rain at any point on race day.