Hamilton is not able to qualify in the Brazilian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton’s Brazilian Grand Prix weekend has been dealt a major setback after he was left out of qualifying at Interlagos.

After the Drag Reduction System (DRS) on his Mercedes car was determined to have broken technical regulations, Lewis Hamilton will start Saturday’s Sprint Qualifying race in Brazil from the bottom of the grid, or potentially even the pit lane.

Following a strong qualifying performance that saw him finish four tenths ahead of World Championship leader Max Verstappen, Hamilton was set to start first on the grid for Saturday’s 24-lap race at Interlagos.

Following Friday’s action, though, FIA F1 Technical Delegate Jo Bauer discovered a problem with Hamilton’s Mercedes car’s DRS.

Hamilton’s DRS was said to have opened up further than the permitted range, lowering drag while increasing top speed.

Hamilton set to start at the very back

The stewards have determined that Hamilton’s car does, in fact, violate Article 3.6.3 of the 2021 Formula 1 Technical Regulations.

The decision adds to Hamilton’s already difficult weekend, as he faces a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix after Mercedes changed his engine ahead of the race.

It’s uncertain whether Hamilton will start the Sprint Qualifying race from the pit lane or from the back of the grid. The FIA has yet to confirm, since the consequences of parc ferme regulations intended to address the rear wing issue must be considered.

Meanwhile, Verstappen has been penalized for touching Hamilton’s rear wing in post-qualifying parc ferme conditions.

Several masks inspired by Formula One racing drivers are currently available at the following websites for a reasonable price: