Verstappen and Lawson get grid penalties after ‘clumsy’ Mexico City practice clash

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson have been given grid penalties by the stewards following their “unacceptable” and “clumsy” incident during second practice in Mexico.

The pair – having missed FP1 as rookies Ayumu Iwasa and Nikola Tsolov took over their cars – crossed paths in the early stages of FP2 when Verstappen made a move on Lawson into Turn 12.

Lawson tried to get back ahead at the following left-hand turn through the stadium section, with Verstappen bouncing over the kerb on the exit and rejoining alongside the New Zealander, causing damage to the Red Bull’s floor and Racing Bulls’ front wing.

A red flag was thrown to recover the debris, and both drivers picked up their practice programmes – Verstappen finishing P5 and Lawson P9.

After the session, the stewards reviewed video footage and data, as well as speaking to Verstappen and Lawson, before issuing individual one-place grid drops.

“On the approach to Turn 12, Car 3 [Verstappen] was on a preparation lap and Car 30 [Lawson] was on a cool down lap preparing for another push lap,” read the stewards’ decision document. “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 admitted the moves were unnecessary and ‘clumsy’.

“Noting that there had been similar incidents this year of actions between drivers in Free Practice, the stewards have decided to escalate the penalty from that of a formal warning to a grid position penalty particularly in view of the warning that had been provided at the Team Managers meeting and consistent with other incidents involving contact between the cars in Free Practice in previous years.”

Speaking after FP2, Racing Bulls team boss Alan Permane had also used the word “unnecessary” to describe Verstappen and Lawson’s coming together.

“I think one word, just ‘unnecessary’ in a practice session; completely unnecessary, and I say that to both of them,” commented Permane, after Verstappen criticised Lawson for “not very smart behaviour”.

"I don’t know what Max has said, I haven’t heard anything, but I’m sure he’s got his opinion and I’m sure Liam has got his opinion. Mine is it’s just not needed, and they can both do better.”

Verstappen and Lawson were also given a penalty point apiece by the stewards.