Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of winning a record-breaking eighth Formula One title have taken a major dent with the Mercedes driver handed a five-place grid penalty for a change of engine in Brazil. When asked about the possibility of a change of engine on Thursday night, Hamilton was coy, but refused to rule it out. ‘I cannot really comment (on a new engine) at the moment,’ Hamilton, 36, said. Hamilton, who has won just one of the last eight races, is taking on a fifth power unit of the season after changing it in Turkey last month, only to finish fifth in Istanbul and three spots behind title favourite Verstappen.

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