During the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson resolved the on-track clash that occurred during the second free practice session. Despite the incident leading to penalties for both drivers, Verstappen chose not to publicly express his opinion on who should secure the Racing Bulls Formula 1® seat for 2027.
Verstappen had qualified fourth but will start from the third row due to a grid penalty resulting from contact with Lawson in FP2. Initially, Verstappen was critical of Lawson’s behavior following the incident. However, the two drivers later met to clear the air, with Lawson apologizing and acknowledging the contact was unintentional. The FIA stewards penalized both Verstappen and Lawson, using the incident as an example to discourage unsafe practices during sessions.
The clash between Verstappen and Lawson highlighted the fine margins and pressures within the Red Bull and Racing Bulls driver line-ups. While Nikola Tsolov is also mentioned as a contender for the 2027 Racing Bulls seat, Verstappen refrained from publicly endorsing either Lawson or Tsolov, leaving the decision to the team’s management.
Lawson expressed uncertainty about his future in Formula 1® but emphasized his focus on scoring points to strengthen his position. Verstappen acknowledged that penalties are sometimes applied to set examples and showed a degree of acceptance regarding being singled out in this case.
This incident underlines the competitive environment within the Red Bull driver programme and the challenges young drivers face when stepping up to Formula 1®. Verstappen’s decision to keep his views private on the Racing Bulls seat reflects the complexity of team dynamics and the importance of internal decision-making processes.
As the weekend progressed, the situation remained a reminder of the fine line between aggressive driving and maintaining safety standards during practice sessions. The penalties issued by the FIA stewards serve as a clear message to all drivers about the expectations for conduct on track.
The focus for Lawson now lies in delivering consistent performances to secure his place, while Verstappen continues to prepare for the race starting from the third row. The decision on the 2027 Racing Bulls seat remains open, with the team expected to evaluate their options carefully in the coming months.