Sergio Perez Hit with 30-Place Grid Penalty for Brazilian GP
Sergio Perez will start from the back of the grid at the Brazilian Grand Prix due to a hefty 30-place penalty for exceeding engine components. This follows a similar penalty for Max Verstappen, while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc also face grid drops.
Cadillac's Sergio Perez has been handed a 30-place grid penalty for the Brazilian Grand Prix after exceeding his engine component limits for the 2026 season. This makes Perez the second driver at Interlagos to face such a penalty, following his former teammate Max Verstappen. As a result, both will start from the back of the grid.
Perez's penalty comes after taking a fifth internal combustion engine, a fifth turbocharger, and a fourth MGU-K this season, which collectively amount to a 30-place drop. The regulations state that penalties over 15 places automatically place a driver at the back of the grid.
In the final practice session, Perez finished 20th while Verstappen led the timesheets. The grid penalties extend beyond Perez and Verstappen; Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will each incur a 10-place penalty for a fifth internal combustion engine, while Mercedes' George Russell faces a five-place drop for a sixth engine.
Despite this setback, Perez's return to Formula 1 with Cadillac has been notable, securing a contract extension through 2029. As the American team considers its lineup for 2026, Valtteri Bottas's seat might be in question. Former IndyCar driver Colton Herta, now in Formula 2, is a potential candidate to replace Bottas, having already tested with Cadillac and meeting the requirements for an F1 super licence.
Herta filled in for Perez during Friday's FP1 session in Brazil, clocking in 0.904 seconds slower than Bottas. Meanwhile, Bottas has hinted that his future with Cadillac might be determined at an upcoming board meeting.