Verstappen and Lawson Handed Grid Penalties After Unacceptable Mexico City Practice Clash

Verstappen and Lawson Handed Grid Penalties After Practice Collision in Mexico City

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson were given one-place grid penalties by FIA stewards following an unacceptable and clumsy collision during the second practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The incident, which occurred on October 31, 2026, during FP2 for the Mexican Grand Prix, brought out a brief red flag as marshals cleared debris from the track surface.

According to PlanetF1, the drivers were summoned to see the stewards after the session following a wheel-to-wheel clash in the stadium section. Formula1.com reported that the stewards deemed the behavior unacceptable, particularly given a specific warning issued earlier that day during the team managers meeting regarding overtaking in the final sector.

The On-Track Incident Through the Stadium Section

The clash unfolded during the early stages of FP2 after both drivers missed the opening practice session while rookie drivers took over their cars. Verstappen attempted a move down the inside of Lawson on the approach to Turn 12. Lawson held his ground through the ensuing left-hand corner, prompting Verstappen to bounce over the exit kerb and rejoin alongside the New Zealander.

Contact between the cars damaged the floor of Verstappen’s Red Bull and the front wing of Lawson’s Racing Bulls machine. The ensuing debris triggered a red flag. Despite the damage, both drivers returned to their practice programs, with Verstappen ultimately finishing the session in fifth place and Lawson slotting into ninth.

Formula1.com noted that the stewards’ decision document stated, “On the approach to Turn 12, Car 3 was on a preparation lap and Car 30 was on a cool down lap preparing for another push lap. The drivers of both cars behaved in a manner that was considered unacceptable by the stewards particularly in view of the warning that had been given at the Team Managers meeting earlier this day.” Both drivers also received a single penalty point on their licenses.

Driver and Team Reactions Following FP2

Post-session remarks revealed mutual frustration between the competitors. Speaking to Sky Sports, Verstappen criticized Lawson’s approach given the driver’s ongoing battle for a 2027 seat. Well I don’t think it’s called unlucky. Maybe not very smart behaviour, what he was trying to do there, Verstappen said. At the end of the day it’s not going to change my weekend, but if I would be him, I would act a little bit smarter. Also when you’re fighting for your seat it’s not very smart behaviour.

Verstappen and Lawson Handed Grid Penalties After Unacceptable Mexico City Practice Clash — Photo: Formula 1

Racing Bulls team boss Alan Permane echoed those sentiments to media outlets, describing the clash as completely unnecessary during a practice session. Laurent Mekies, Red Bull’s team principal, confirmed to Sky Sports Germany that the contact compromised Verstappen’s run plan and left the team with significant repair work overnight.

Meanwhile, BBC Sport noted that Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in FP2, outpacing McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.103 seconds, while Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli prepared for his championship weekend. Lawson finished his Friday running just over half a tenth behind Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad as the team evaluates its lineup options for the 2027 season alongside junior driver Nikola Tsolov.

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