Hamilton, Verstappen Start 20th, 21st in Brazil
Both drivers took new power unit parts that exceeded their season allocation, triggering grid penalties before the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Motorsports
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will start the Brazilian Grand Prix from 20th and 21st on the grid after taking new power unit parts that exceeded their season allocation. Qualifying was held in rain-soaked conditions.
Why it matters
Starting at the back of the field places both former champions behind a large group of cars at Interlagos, a circuit where overtaking has historically been challenging. The grid penalties reshape the race strategy for drivers who would otherwise have been contending near the front.
Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix from 10th on the grid in 2021, and Verstappen won from 17th in 2024. Both results show that recovery from deep in the field has been possible at Interlagos, though the extraction does not detail how many positions each driver is expected to gain from the 20th and 21st starts.
The players
Lewis Hamilton
A seven-time Formula One world champion who started the Brazilian Grand Prix from 20th after taking new power unit parts.
Max Verstappen
A four-time Formula One world champion who started the Brazilian Grand Prix from 21st after taking new power unit parts.
The details
Both drivers took new power unit parts in Brazil that exceeded their season allocation, which triggered the grid penalties that pushed them to 20th and 21st. Qualifying took place in rain-soaked conditions, and the 2026 regulations have removed DRS while introducing a new overtake mode that drains battery from the last corner to Turn 1.
Timeline
2021: Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix from 10th on the grid.
2024: Verstappen won the Brazilian Grand Prix from 17th on the grid.
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Brazilian Grand Prix race scheduled.
Season Trajectory
The 2026 regulations removed DRS and introduced a new overtake mode, and the extraction projects that overtaking at Interlagos will be much harder than in previous seasons. Overtaking may be harder again once drivers reach cars with similar lap times.
Fantasy and betting readers should note that both Hamilton and Verstappen begin from the back half of the grid, which affects projected points for race finishes. The grid penalties also change how the race is likely to unfold for drivers starting near them.
The takeaway
Starting from 20th and 21st removes the front-running advantage both drivers normally carry into Brazil. Watch how the new overtake mode affects passing at Interlagos on race day.
Further reading
For more on the season's technical changes, see the Motorsports section.
