Hamilton treats wet qualifying as a test before São Paulo GP
Power-unit changes brought grid penalties for both Ferrari drivers, with Hamilton set to start from the back and Leclerc from 14th.
The 2026 Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix has not yet been run. Ahead of the race, Lewis Hamilton said he had treated qualifying as a test after power-unit changes, with penalties set to leave the Ferrari driver starting from the back of the grid.
Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc each received an initial 10-place grid penalty after an internal combustion engine change. Further power-unit element changes for Hamilton, following problems in Free Practice 3, brought additional penalties; the supplied report does not specify their full extent.
In wet qualifying, Leclerc was fourth fastest but was set to start 14th after his penalty. Formula 1 reported Hamilton would start from P20.
Ferrari changes shaped Hamilton’s qualifying
Hamilton reached the second part of the wet qualifying session. He said limited running was also intended to conserve tyres for the potentially wet 71-lap race.
The Ferrari driver described using the session to check that the engine was working and that the car felt good. He said the conditions could make a recovery from P20 difficult, while expressing enthusiasm for racing in the rain.
Leclerc hopes to recover from 14th
Leclerc advanced to the final part of qualifying and recorded the fourth-fastest time there. His reported starting position was 14th once the grid penalty was applied.
The Monegasque driver said the wet-weather running had taught him a great deal. He remained hopeful of a podium challenge, pointing to the changeable weather as a possible opportunity.
Newsroom
The qualifying results and penalties set the starting positions described by Formula 1; the race result and any championship consequences remain undecided.
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Sources
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Formula 1
Official source · 07/11/2026 23:01
