Max Verstappen is tough on Liam Lawson: “Don’t mess with me!”

It was one of the most controversial moments in practice for the traditional Mexican Grand Prix: Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen had to report to the stewards after the second free practice session. The race stewards – Garry Connelly (Australia), Loic Bacquelaine (Belgium), Derek Warwick (Great Britain) and Omar Chávez (Mexico) – wanted to know from the Dutchman what he had been thinking during his fierce duel with Liam Lawson.

Given the scene that ensued, the fans in the stands inevitably wondered: ‘Is the race on already?’

Liam Lawson and Max Verstappen were locked in a relentless battle; neither was willing to back down, and pieces of the front wing from Lawson’s car flew off. Race control brought out the red flag to clear the debris from the track.

Lawson, stunned, said over the radio: “He just crashed into me, mate, just right into me. Every weekend!”

Verstappen’s car was also damaged, on the left air deflector, which is positioned below the sidepod. No radio message from the Dutchman was shown on screen.

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After the race stewards had inspected the scene and heard from the two drivers involved, they reached a conclusion: it wasn’t exactly exemplary behaviour – Max Verstappen must drop one place on the starting grid for the Mexican Grand Prix, meaning he will start from fifth on the grid.

For Lawson (ninth in qualifying), none of this mattered in the end; he was excluded from the results following the final practice session due to the unauthorised use of energy recovery.

The quartet of stewards explained the penalties: “Both drivers behaved unacceptably in this situation; both admitted that their actions had been unnecessary and clumsy.”

“As there have now been several incidents of this kind in free practice, the race stewards are determined to impose a harsher penalty than the usual warning.”

Max Verstappen didn’t mince his words when speaking to our colleagues at Viaplay: “All I can say to Liam Lawson is – look, you’re fighting for your place in Formula 1. So you shouldn’t start a row, especially not with me. I’ve always supported Lawson. I actually get on quite well with him. And I’ve always spoken very positively about him within the team. Because, of course, what happened to him last year was pretty awful (Lawson was transferred from Red Bull Racing to Racing Bulls after just two races, M.B.). So yes, I’m really disappointed that something like this has now happened.”

“I’m really not a difficult person. But when I put my helmet on, I naturally try to make the best of it. And I won’t let anyone push me off the track – that won’t happen to me.”

“Especially when you’re part of the same family, you’re always taught to show great respect to the A-team. I didn’t do anything like that when I was still at Toro Rosso either. You don’t push Red Bull Racing drivers off the track. You just don’t do that. Just think logically about the situation you’re in.”