Confirmed: Hamilton handed fresh ICE and grid penalty in Sao Paulo!

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The FIA confirmed at the start of FP1 in Sao Paulo that Mercedes has assigned a new Internal Combustion Engine to Lewis Hamilton, a change that necessarily implies a grid drop for the Briton on Sunday.

The move is Hamilton's second engine of the season, with the reigning world champion receiving his first above-the-limit ICE in Turkey where he was also forced to take a ten-place grid drop.

Hamilton should theoretically be sent back five spots on Sunday's grid from where he finishes in Saturday afternoon's Sprint Qualifying event.

As a reminder, the grid for the latter will be set in this afternoon's qualifying session.

Ahead of this weekend's race, Max Verstappen leads Hamilton by 19 points in the Drivers' championship.

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