Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson have both been handed grid penalties for Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix after the Red Bull drivers were involved in an on-track confrontation during second practice.
The stewards ruled that both drivers had acted unnecessarily and carelessly during the incident, which saw Verstappen make contact with Lawson’s car and run over his front wing. Both drivers will lose one position on the starting grid and receive a penalty point on their super licences.
Verstappen and Lawson collide during practice
The unusual confrontation happened shortly after the start of FP2, as the two Red Bull drivers approached the stadium section of the Autódromo Hermanos RodrÃguez.
Verstappen pulled alongside Lawson shortly before entering the stadium, but the New Zealander maintained his line and refused to back off.
The pair continued alongside each other through the opening corners of the section before coming dangerously close two corners later. Verstappen subsequently ran over Lawson’s front wing, prompting the stewards to investigate.
Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, commentating for F1 TV, was unimpressed by what he witnessed.
“That’s just stupid stuff,” Palmer said.
Stewards punish both Red Bull drivers
Following discussions with both drivers, the stewards concluded that neither had handled the situation appropriately.
Both Verstappen and Lawson admitted that they had acted unnecessarily and carelessly, leading to the decision to impose penalties on both competitors.
Rather than issuing a warning, the stewards opted for a one-place grid penalty and a penalty point for each driver.
The decision represents an unusual outcome for Red Bull, with both sides of the garage now facing consequences for an incident involving their own drivers.
Verstappen points the finger at Lawson
Verstappen was clearly unimpressed with Lawson’s approach when questioned about the incident by Sky Sports after the session.
“I wouldn’t call that unfortunate,” the Dutchman said.
He subsequently suggested that Lawson should have made a different decision, particularly given the New Zealander’s ongoing battle to secure his place in Formula 1.
“Perhaps not the smartest thing he did. It won’t change my weekend much,” Verstappen explained.
“But if I were him, I’d act a bit smarter. Especially when you’re still fighting for your driver’s seat.”
Verstappen’s comments suggest that he believes Lawson should have avoided the confrontation rather than defending his position so aggressively.
The incident also adds another awkward chapter to the relationship between the two Red Bull drivers, particularly with Lawson’s future in the team remaining a subject of discussion.
Leclerc leads Ferrari one-two challenge in FP2
Away from the Red Bull controversy, Ferrari enjoyed a positive second practice session.
Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets with a lap of 1:17.827, finishing 0.103 seconds ahead of Lando Norris. George Russell was third, just 0.003 seconds behind the McLaren driver.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fourth, with Verstappen fifth.
Antonelli remains in a commanding position in the championship and needs only a ninth-place finish in Sunday’s race to secure the title.
However, Verstappen’s penalty means his Mexico Grand Prix preparations have become more complicated, while Lawson must also contend with the consequences of an incident involving his own team-mate.
Both Red Bull drivers will now have to put the controversy behind them before Sunday’s race.
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