Four drivers battle for second place at Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Charles Leclerc face a recovery challenge after grid penalties ahead of Sunday's race.
Four Formula 1 drivers are competing for second place in the championship as the series arrives at Interlagos for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, according to the Times of India. With Kimi Antonelli already crowned the 2026 champion, the focus has shifted to the 16-point gap separating Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Charles Leclerc.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen leads the battle for P2 with 261 points, just two ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who has 259 points. Mercedes' George Russell sits in third with 250 points, while Charles Leclerc of Ferrari is fourth with 245 points.
The contenders face significant challenges due to grid penalties. Verstappen and Hamilton will start from the back of the grid following power-unit penalties. Russell, who qualified second, will start seventh after a five-place penalty, while Leclerc will start 14th following a 10-place penalty.
Verstappen and Russell have recorded three victories each this season, whereas Hamilton and Leclerc have one victory apiece. If the drivers finish the season level on points, the number of wins will serve as the first tie-breaker.
The race at Interlagos remains unpredictable with 100 points still available across the final four rounds of the season.