Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson have each received a one-place grid penalty for the Mexico City Grand Prix following a collision during Friday practice. The incident occurred in the stadium section as the two drivers ran side by side through three corners before making side-on contact.
Stewards Rule Both Drivers at Fault
The FIA stewards took the unusual step of issuing a sporting penalty for a practice infringement, stating that both drivers behaved in an unacceptable manner. According to the stewards' report, Verstappen was preparing for a flying lap while Lawson was on a cool-down lap after a timed lap and preparing for another push lap. Both drivers admitted their moves were unnecessary and "clumsy".
Verstappen Criticises Lawson's Behaviour
Speaking before the verdict, Verstappen accused Lawson of "not very smart behaviour" and trying to "drive me off the track at the hairpin". He added that if he were in Lawson's position, fighting for a seat at Racing Bulls for next season, he would act more sensibly. Lawson is one of three drivers competing for two seats at Red Bull's junior team alongside Arvid Lindblad and Formula 2 front-runner Nikola Tsolov. Verstappen, a four-time champion, holds significant influence within the Red Bull organisation.
Lawson previously partnered Verstappen for two races in 2025 before being demoted, and again for three races this year as a substitute for the injured Isack Hadjar, performing more effectively on his second stint.
Team Principal Calls Incident Unnecessary
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane described the clash as "unnecessary" for both drivers, adding that they can both do better.
Practice Pace and Championship Implications
Charles Leclerc topped both practice sessions for Ferrari, finishing 0.103 seconds ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris. Mercedes driver George Russell was third, just 0.003 seconds further back, with teammate Kimi Antonelli fourth. Antonelli is on the verge of clinching his first world title on Sunday; only a victory by Russell or Lewis Hamilton can mathematically prevent it. Even then, Antonelli would need only ninth place if Russell wins or tenth if Hamilton wins to secure the championship.
Hamilton encountered a technical issue, stopping on track and ending up 11th overall. He expressed frustration at the lost running but felt the car was competitive. Russell noted Ferrari appeared strongest, though qualifying could still go any way.
Behind Hadjar, Racing Bulls duo Arvid Lindblad and Lawson sandwiched Pierre Gasly's Alpine, while Oscar Piastri completed the top ten for McLaren. Race-simulation runs suggested a one-stop strategy is most likely, with overtaking expected to be difficult due to the thin air at the 2,200-meter altitude.
Rookie Running and Superlicence Issue
The first session featured rookie drivers for 10 of the 11 teams. Cadillac's Colton Herta, a nine-time IndyCar race winner, was initially thought to have earned enough points for an F1 superlicence, but further FIA investigation revealed he remains one point short. The team plans to run him in another practice session before the season ends to secure the licence.
