Penalty for Max Verstappen & Liam Lawson following a collision in the Mexico practice session!

Max Verstappen had to report to the stewards after the second free practice session for the Mexican Grand Prix. 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 battle 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 fierce battle; neither was willing to give way, and parts of the front wing of 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.

Verstappen on the collision: “That wasn’t particularly clever behaviour on his part. If I were in his shoes, I’d handle it a bit more sensibly. I mean, he’s fighting for his place. At the end of the day, it doesn’t change anything for my weekend.”

Topic of the week

Soon-to-be world champion Kimi Antonelli: The inevitable will then follow in Mexico

The 20-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli had the chance to secure the 2026 World Championship title at the US Grand Prix. He did everything right: victory in Texas. The title celebrations have nevertheless been postponed. Until Mexico.

Mathias Brunner

Read More

TV Program

Tomorrow

Mexico City: Rennen Re-Live

FIA Formula One World Championship

01.11.2026 - 23:15

“I was on a fast warm-up lap when I came across Lawson. So I didn’t want to lift off the throttle. And he was driving really slowly. That’s why I didn’t break off the manoeuvre. Then, when he saw me coming, he suddenly picked up speed. I’ve no idea what was going through his head. I really don’t know why he thinks he has to pick a fight with me in a situation like this.”

“In the first practice session, Iwasa was driving my car. Things could have gone a bit better in the second practice session. But we’re not all that far off the front either. We still need a bit of fine-tuning, but I reckon every driver will say that today, simply because setting up the car in the thin air here is really tricky. I don’t think any driver enjoyed the grip situation.”

After the race stewards had reviewed the incident and heard from the two drivers involved, they came to the conclusion: That wasn’t exactly exemplary behaviour – Max Verstappen must drop back one place on the starting grid for the Mexican Grand Prix; so even if he were to set the fastest time in qualifying, he wouldn’t be able to start from pole.

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

“As there have already been several incidents of this kind during free practice, the race stewards have decided to increase the usual penalty of a warning.”

Hence the same penalty for the two rivals.