F1 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix starting grid with five penalties
The Brazilian Grand Prix starting grid has an unusual look with multiple penalties for five drivers including George Russell, Max Verstappen and both Ferrari drivers applied at Interlagos.
Russell and Leclerc drop down from their second and fourth positions in qualifying respectively, to seventh and 14th, while Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen were not full session participants as they knew they had back-of-the-grid penalties to come.
Sergio Perez has a penalty but Cadillac being a backmarker, it makes little difference for the driver due to start 22nd.
Though he and Verstappen 'only' had 30-place grid penalties for engine component changes compared to Hamilton having 75, he starts ahead because he set the fastest time of all those who must automatically start at the back of the grid.
What the absence of typical leading cars has done, coupled with a wet session, is allowed for some unfamiliar faces in the top 10 and very close to the front.
Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg will share the second row of the grid, Ollie Bearman starts sixth for Haas, while Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon are eighth and ninth for 2026 strugglers Aston Martin and Williams respectively.
Provisional starting grid
1 Lando Norris (McLaren)
2 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
3 Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
4 Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
5 Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
6 Ollie Bearman (Haas)
7 George Russell (Mercedes)*
8 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
9 Alex Albon (Williams)
10 Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
11 Rafael Camara (Haas)
12 Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
13 Carlos Sainz (Williams)
14 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)**
15 Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
16 Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
17 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
18 Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
19 Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
20 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)***
21 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)****
22 Sergio Perez (Cadillac)****
* Five-place grid penalty for engine change
** 10-place grid penalty for engine change
*** 75-place grid penalty for component changes
**** 30-place grid penalty for component changes
