Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen facing penalties in Brazil

World championship rivals both in danger ahead of Brazil Grand Prix

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton after winning the qualifying session for Brazil's Sao Paulo Grand Prix. AFP

Formula One title rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton both faced possible sanctions on Saturday after being accused of breaking the rules ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

On a day of drama in Brazil after qualifying for a Saturday sprint race that determines Sunday's starting grid, Mercedes driver Hamilton and then Red Bull's championship leader Verstappen caught the stewards' attention.

Seven times world champion Hamilton dominated qualifying at the Interlagos circuit but his car then failed a technical check, with the risk of demotion to the back of the sprint field.

Stewards ordered the rear wing assembly to be impounded and the car stored overnight.

A spokesman for the governing FIA said the officials were awaiting further evidence.

A statement then delivered another bombshell by summoning Verstappen and a team representative to a meeting for an alleged breach of the international sporting code.

Video footage posted by a fan on social media showed Verstappen seemingly checking with his hands the rear wings of his Red Bull and Hamilton's Mercedes after they had parked up post-qualifying.

Max Verstappen gets out of his cockpit after taking second place in the qualifying session. AFP

Article 2.5.1 of the sporting code states that "no operation, checking, tuning or repair is allowed" in that secure area unless authorised by officials.

Hamilton, 19 points adrift of Verstappen with four races remaining, already has a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's race after Mercedes changed the engine in his car.

The Briton had clocked a fastest time of one minute 07.934 seconds with Verstappen 0.438 slower, a considerable margin around one of the shortest laps on the calendar.

"Let's go," exclaimed Hamilton over the team radio.

Three points are to be won in the sprint but Hamilton's chances of taking them were thrown into doubt by a measurement of millimetres.

Formula One technical delegate Jo Bauer reported the uppermost rear wing adjustable positions did not comply with the rules for a maximum distance of 85mm when the drag reduction system was deployed.

Hamilton had earlier told reporters the car was finally performing to his liking.

"A lot of the times we get it wrong, I get it wrong, and today I got it right and the car was really nice to drive. It was everything I wanted," he said.

Verstappen said Hamilton's new engine had clearly made a difference.

"For me it’s not a big shock. I’m just happy to be second. That’s a good position to start from. Of course you always want to be closer but sometimes you just have to be realistic and there was not much more in it," he said.

The 100km sprint is the last of three in the experimental format this season, with the other two being at Monza and Silverstone.

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas was third fastest with Red Bull's Sergio Perez alongside on the second row.

"Lewis was untouchable today," said Perez.

Team boss Christian Horner agreed: "That fresh engine is obviously pumping out some horsepower for (Hamilton) so I think second was the best we could hope for," he said.

"If you look at the relative speed (of Hamilton) compared to Valtteri it's a couple of tenths."