Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start Sunday’s Russian Grand Prix from the back of the grid as a result of a penalty for using too many engines. Red Bull needed to take a fourth engine – one more than permitted for a season. Verstappen’s grid penalty gives Hamilton and Mercedes a golden opportunity to gain ground in the championship – the Dutchman is five points ahead of Hamilton heading into this weekend. Verstappen will start at the back alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who also has a new engine fitted this weekend and has also exceeded his allocation. In Verstappen’s case, he needed another engine because he lost one in his heavy crash at the British Grand Prix following his first-lap collision with Hamilton.

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