Ferrari is facing a double grid penalty setback at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix after fitting new internal combustion engines to both Lewis Hamilton’s and Charles Leclerc’s SF-26 cars. An FIA technical report issued ahead of qualifying at Interlagos confirms that both drivers have exceeded their permitted seasonal engine allocation, exposing each to a 10-place grid drop.
The development adds a significant complication to Ferrari’s weekend in São Paulo, particularly as the team had already been dealing with concerns over Lewis Hamilton’s remaining power unit availability. Charles Leclerc has now joined his team-mate in exceeding the regulatory limit, while Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have also been named in the FIA document following further component changes.
Ferrari engine penalties: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc exceed 2026 allocation
Ferrari’s decision to introduce fresh internal combustion engines in both cars means Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have now each used five units during the 2026 Formula 1 season. Under Article B8.2.2 a) of the sporting regulations, the permitted allocation stands at four, leaving both drivers beyond the limit.
Consequently, the two Ferrari drivers face 10-place grid penalties for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Although the technical delegate’s report establishes that the components have been replaced and the permitted quantities exceeded, the stewards are responsible for formally determining and issuing the resulting sanctions.
The timing is particularly important for Ferrari, which must now account for the potential grid drops when preparing for qualifying at Interlagos. Both drivers are facing the prospect of starting considerably further back than their qualifying performances would otherwise allow.
For Lewis Hamilton, the announcement follows earlier concerns about his engine allocation. A Ferrari power unit problem at the Mexican Grand Prix had already raised the possibility that the seven-time world champion would require an additional engine before the end of the campaign.
Charles Leclerc also receives a new Ferrari engine before Las Vegas
While Lewis Hamilton’s potential penalty had already been discussed, the inclusion of Charles Leclerc represents another important development. Ferrari has opted to change the Monegasque driver’s internal combustion engine at Interlagos instead of postponing the replacement until the next round in Las Vegas.
That decision brings both SF-26 cars into the same situation regarding their seasonal engine allocation. Each driver has moved onto a fifth internal combustion engine, despite the four-unit limit established under the 2026 regulations.
The Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying and race schedule now takes on added significance for Ferrari, with the team’s starting positions potentially affected by penalties regardless of the lap times Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc produce on Saturday.
Max Verstappen faces even larger Brazilian GP grid penalty
Ferrari is not the only team affected by the latest FIA report. Max Verstappen has also exceeded the stated power unit component limits, with Red Bull introducing three separate replacements on his car.
The Dutch driver has received his fifth internal combustion engine, fifth turbocharger and fifth exhaust system of the season. According to the reported component limits and associated penalties, the changes expose Max Verstappen to a combined 30-place grid drop.
Such a sanction would leave the Red Bull driver facing the possibility of starting the Brazilian Grand Prix from the back of the grid, although the official decision remains with the stewards.
The scale of the replacements makes Max Verstappen’s situation particularly notable. Whereas Ferrari has introduced an additional internal combustion engine in each of its cars, Red Bull has replaced three different power unit components on the same car.
Sergio Perez also exceeds power unit limits at Interlagos
Sergio Perez is the fourth driver identified in the FIA technical delegate’s report. The Mexican, competing for the Ferrari-powered Cadillac team, has taken his fifth internal combustion engine and fifth turbocharger of the 2026 season.
Both components exceed the permitted maximum of four units specified in the report, placing Sergio Perez among the drivers awaiting formal decisions on their regulatory infringements.
The four drivers and their reported component changes are summarised below:
- Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari: Fifth internal combustion engine.
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari: Fifth internal combustion engine.
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull: Fifth internal combustion engine, fifth turbocharger and fifth exhaust system.
- Sergio Perez – Cadillac: Fifth internal combustion engine and fifth turbocharger.
FIA technical report leaves final grid penalties to the stewards
The FIA technical delegate submitted the report to the stewards on 7 November 2026, ahead of qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix. It formally records the newly introduced power unit components and identifies where the seasonal allocations have been exceeded.
However, the document recording those changes is not itself the final stewards’ decision. The precise sanctions must still be established through the official process, with the corresponding decisions determining how the penalties will apply to the starting grid.
For Ferrari, the immediate consequence is the prospect of both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc receiving 10-place grid drops on the same weekend. The Maranello team’s decision to replace both engines at Interlagos, rather than delaying Charles Leclerc’s change until Las Vegas, has therefore created a significant additional obstacle ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
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