F1 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix starting grid with five penalties
A flurry of engine component penalties has shaken up the starting order for the upcoming race, pushing several championship contenders down the lineup. George Russell, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and Sergio Perez all face demotions on the grid due to mechanical changes, with Hamilton shouldering a massive seventy-five-place penalty.
These setbacks, combined with a wet qualifying session, have cleared the path for unexpected drivers to claim spots near the front. Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg will occupy the second row, while Ollie Bearman is set to launch from sixth position.
Further back in the top ten, Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon round out the eighth and ninth places respectively, creating a uniquely mixed-up provisional starting grid.
