Verstappen and Ferrari drivers set for grid drops in Sao Paulo

Max Verstappen is set to mount a dramatic charge from the far back of the grid for Sunday’s São Paulo Grand Prix, with Red Bull opting to swap multiple power unit elements on the championship contender's car.

The strategic tactical resetting of components follows an unstable Friday for the Dutch driver at Interlagos.

Though Verstappen managed the third-fastest single-lap time in FP2 and clocked matching pace over the long-run averages, his afternoon was dominated by sharp exchanges over the team radio detailing lingering engine and clutch troubles.

Red Bull head of strategy Hannah Schmitz confirmed after the sessions that engineers were evaluating several adjustments to iron out the mechanical issues.

Verstappen himself acknowledged that handling kinks, particularly regarding the steering setup, remained to be addressed ahead of qualifying, though he expressed confidence that the team could refine the package – noting with a grin that a bit of rain might play into their hands.

Ferrari drivers also hit with grid drops

The garage work ran late into the night in Brazil. Red Bull, alongside Aston Martin, breached the official FIA curfew – consuming the second of their four allowed seasonal late-working exemptions – to overhaul Verstappen's machinery.

Verstappen will not be alone in taking a hit on the starting grid. Joining him with forced grid drops are Ferrari duo Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Both Ferrari drivers have taken on new internal combustion engines (ICE), incurring mandatory ten-place penalties that will see them demoted well down the field.

Red Bull's tactical gambit in the championship push

Starting from the back row in Brazil is familiar territory for Verstappen.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies highlighted Verstappen's track record at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, recalling his standard-setting charge from 17th to victory in wet conditions in 2024 and his drive from the pitlane to the podium.

The timing of the engine change is critical. Verstappen enters the weekend hot off a streak of three wins in the last four outings, including a dominant performance in Mexico that propelled him into second in the drivers' championship standings.

Moreover, Red Bull holds a 17-point margin over McLaren in the fight for third in the constructors' standings with four races remaining.

• Read also: Leclerc insists Ferrari tensions with Hamilton are now ‘settled’

Team strategists weighed using Verstappen to provide a tow for teammate Isack Hadjar during qualifying to boost his starting slot.

However, with unpredictable weather looming over the Interlagos circuit, clean air and track positioning could prove far more vital than slipstream tactics if rain begins to fall.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook