Verstappen and Lawson receive grid penalties after Mexico GP practice collision
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson received grid penalties after a collision in Mexico GP practice.
- Both drivers will drop one place on the grid for the race on Sunday.
- The stewards deemed their FP2 contact 'unacceptable,' resulting in a penalty point.
- Verstappen criticized Lawson's actions, calling them 'not very smart behaviour.'
During the practice session for the Mexico Grand Prix, Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson collided, leading to penalties for both drivers. The stewards ruled the incident as 'unacceptable,' which not only resulted in a one-place grid drop for each but also a penalty point on their superlicences. Verstappen publicly criticized Lawson for his role in the incident, emphasizing the need for better judgment on track.
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson were each handed a one-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Mexico Grand Prix following a collision during second practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Both drivers also received a penalty point on their superlicences after stewards ruled their contact “unacceptable.”
The incident unfolded as Verstappen attempted to overtake Lawson heading into Turn 12. Lawson, defending his position, kept the Racing Bulls driver side by side through the stadium section. Verstappen was forced off track at Turn 14, where the two Red Bull-affiliated drivers made contact, damaging Verstappen’s bargeboards and leaving debris on the circuit that triggered a red flag. The clash compromised Verstappen’s running for the remainder of the session.
Verstappen was blunt in his assessment after the session, telling Sky Sports F1 that Lawson’s actions were “not very smart behaviour.” He added that Lawson’s decision to challenge him so aggressively was ill-advised given the young driver’s uncertain future at Racing Bulls, where the 2027 driver lineup remains undecided. Verstappen said, “If I were him I would act a little bit smarter, because when you are fighting for your seat, it’s not very smart behaviour.”
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane described the clash as a “storm in a teacup,” attributing it partly to the unique demands of the Mexico circuit, where drivers need to push hard in the final sector of their out laps to get the tyres into the right operating window. Both drivers were apparently trying to do just that simultaneously, leading to the unnecessary collision.
The FIA stewards’ official report noted that Verstappen was on a preparation lap while Lawson was on a cooldown lap preparing for another flying lap when the clash occurred. After a lengthy investigation, the stewards concluded that both drivers shared responsibility, resulting in identical penalties.
Verstappen set the fifth fastest time in FP2, while Lawson was ninth. With the grid penalties applied, both will start one position lower than their qualifying results. The incident adds an extra layer of tension to an already competitive weekend, especially for Lawson, whose place at Racing Bulls next season is still under review amid speculation about Formula 2 frontrunner Nikola Tsolov’s possible promotion.
As the teams prepare for qualifying and the race, all eyes will be on how Verstappen manages the damage to his car and whether Lawson can maintain his strong form despite the setback. The penalties serve as a reminder of the fine line drivers tread between aggressive racing and costly mistakes in Formula 1’s high-stakes environment.
Further reading
Reported
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The strongest sourcing here is Crash.net and Motorsport.com, a first-tier outlet - the tier that generally does its own reporting.
3 independent outlets are carrying this: Crash.net, Motorsport.com, PlanetF1.
