Verstappen and Lawson handed grid drops after Mexico FP2 clash

Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson have each been handed a one-place grid penalty after their collision in second practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The stewards issued the penalties after reviewing footage and data and speaking with both drivers. They also gave each driver a penalty point. The decision means both will lose a place on the starting grid at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

The incident happened early in FP2, after both drivers had missed first practice while rookies Ayumu Iwasa and Nikola Tsolov took over their cars. Verstappen moved past Lawson into Turn 12. Lawson attempted to retake the position through the following left-hand turn in the stadium section, and the pair ended up alongside one another as Verstappen rejoined after running over the kerb.

Stewards cite earlier warning to teams

The contact damaged the Red Bull’s floor and the Racing Bulls’ front wing, scattering debris and bringing out a red flag. Both drivers resumed their programmes after the interruption; Verstappen finished fifth and Lawson ninth.

In their ruling, the stewards said the drivers’ conduct was unacceptable, particularly given a warning delivered at the Team Managers’ meeting earlier that day. Both accepted that their moves had been unnecessary and clumsy, according to the decision.

The stewards said they had considered similar incidents during practice this year and contact between cars in previous seasons. They therefore escalated the response beyond a formal warning to a grid-position penalty.

Permane calls the contact avoidable

Racing Bulls team boss Alan Permane also described the clash as unnecessary after the session, saying both drivers could have handled the situation better. Verstappen had criticised Lawson’s behaviour following the incident.

The ruling adds another penalty episode to Lawson’s record this season; see F1LivePulse’s report on his Italian Grand Prix grid penalty. Lawson’s place at Racing Bulls has also been covered in our look at how his partnership with Arvid Lindblad is driving the team forward.

The stewards’ decision was issued on October 31, 2026, following the Mexico practice session. Both drivers will now carry the one-place drop into the Grand Prix starting order.