Max Verstappen will start Sunday’s São Paulo Grand Prix from 20th place on the grid after Red Bull Racing elected to replace four internal combustion engine elements following performance issues discovered during Friday practice, GPFans reported.
The grid demotion drops the reigning world champion to the back row at Autódromo José Carlos Pace. Red Bull had delayed the necessary power unit changes to maximize performance, but technicians pulled the trigger ahead of Sunday’s race at the Interlagos circuit.
NOS reported that Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are also facing grid penalties for swapping their internal combustion engines, though stewards had not yet finalized their exact starting positions. Motorsport noted that Hamilton and Verstappen will line up 20th and 21st respectively.
Verstappen.com NIEUWS: Max Verstappen van P21 naar P2 in Sao Paulo: 'Een erg goed resultaat' dlvr.it/TWFXSj pic.twitter.com/967ste1XzT
Verstappen tackled the sudden delay in São Paulo by watching football during a heavy downpour, telling reporters, Ik start toch laatste, dus het maakt niks uit
as reported by AD.nl.
NOS reported that only two Grands Prix during the 2026 season have been won from outside the front row of the grid.
Verstappen climbed from the 17th spot in wet conditions to win in São Paulo two seasons ago. Last year, after a botched qualifying session forced a setup change and a pit-lane start, he fought back to finish third.
Wet weather is once again forecast for Sunday, raising expectations for a chaotic race.
Verstappen said he is hoping for many safety cars so that other drivers cannot pull away and the race situation repeatedly comes back to him.
Hamilton faces a similar challenge from the rear of the field. When asked about his strategy, Hamilton answered that he has no strategy and will simply try to win in one way or another.
Motorsport noted that modern power units rely on a limited overtaking deployment mode rather than traditional DRS advantages on the long Interlagos straight.
Verstappen explained to Motorsport that energy recovery limitations compress top speeds down the straightaways:
Nu hebben we geen DRS meer. En de inhaalmodus is hier erg beperkt bruikbaar, want door het lange rechte stuk trekt iedereen de batterij leeg. Je snelheidsverschil op het rechte stuk wordt dus veel kleiner – eigenlijk een beetje zoals in Mexico.
With final grid placements still pending confirmation for Ferrari’s penalized entries, teams await the official FIA starting order ahead of Sunday’s lights out.
Earlier coverage: Max Verstappen Receives Brazil GP Grid Penalty After Red Bull Engine Change
