Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson Penalized After Mexico Grand Prix Practice Collision
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson received a one-place grid penalty and one penalty point on their superlicences following a wheel-to-wheel collision during the second practice session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Sportovní komisaři (the stewards) ruled that both drivers engaged in unacceptable and clumsy maneuvers during the FP2 session, according to track reports from F1sport.cz and GPF1.cz.
The incident occurred as Verstappen ran an installation lap while Lawson drove a slow preparation lap ahead of a fast attempt. Approaching the right-hand Turn 12 entering the stadium section, Verstappen attempted an inside pass. Lawson remained alongside through Turn 13, leaving no room on the exit, which prompted Verstappen to briefly run off the track, F1sport.cz reported. When Verstappen rejoined ahead, the two cars made contact at Turn 14, damaging the left bargeboard on Verstappen’s Red Bull and the front wing on Lawson’s Racing Bulls machine. The debris triggered a brief red flag interruption.
Laurent Mekies and Alan Permane Condemn Unnecessary Practice Contact
Team management from both organizations criticized the on-track scuffle. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports that the clash was entirely unnecessary and cost both squads valuable track time and car components. Alan Permane, head of Racing Bulls, similarly labeled the maneuvers pointless and stated that both drivers should have handled the situation differently, as noted by Nova.
Stewards reviewed telemetry and video footage before issuing identical penalties to both drivers. The decision cited a clear violation of warnings issued during the Friday team managers’ meeting, where officials explicitly prohibited aggressive overtaking in the final sector during practice sessions. GPF1.cz noted that the penalty escalated from a formal reprimand to a grid drop due to prior warnings and historical precedents involving practice session collisions.
Max Verstappen Questions Liam Lawson Career Tactics
Verstappen voiced sharp criticism of Lawson’s approach following the session, questioning the rookie’s judgment while fighting for a competitive seat. According to Nova, Verstappen claimed Lawson sped up upon seeing him approach and deliberately attempted to push him wide. Being in his position, I would act a bit smarter, especially when you are fighting for your seat,
Verstappen said, highlighting Lawson’s unconfirmed status for the 2027 grid.
WOAH! 😨This is the moment where Verstappen and Lawson go wheel-to-wheel in FP2, and make contact! 💥#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/edY5rY0h7E
Lawson apologized to Verstappen the following morning, clarifying that the contact was unintentional and caused by the immediate post-session adrenalin. Racing Bulls has yet to finalize its driver lineup for the upcoming season, leaving Lawson—who sits ninth in the championship standings ahead of teammate Arvid Lindblad by 39 points—under ongoing scrutiny alongside junior driver Nikola Tsolov, as detailed by GPF1.cz.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Mexico Grand Prix Penalties
What exact penalty did Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson receive?
Both drivers were penalized with a one-place drop on the starting grid for the grand prix and one penalty point added to their FIA superlicences.
Why did the stewards issue a grid penalty for a practice session incident?
Stewards chose to escalate the punishment beyond a standard reprimand because team managers received a specific pre-weekend warning regarding aggressive overtaking in the final sector.
Are Liam Lawson and Max Verstappen current teammates?
Lawson currently drives for Racing Bulls, though he previously served as Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull twice.
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