Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson have both been handed one-place grid penalties following a collision during the second practice session at the 2026 Formula 1® Mexico Grand Prix. The incident, which took place at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, involved the two drivers battling closely through the stadium section of the track.
During Friday’s FP2 session, Verstappen attempted an overtake on Lawson at Turn 12. Lawson defended his position, resulting in both drivers running side by side into the stadium section. Verstappen found himself on the outside at Turn 13 and felt forced off the track by Lawson’s defensive line. This led to contact at Turn 14, which caused damage to Verstappen’s barge boards. Both drivers acknowledged that their actions were unnecessary and clumsy.
The Racing Bulls team principal, Alan Permane, described the clash as avoidable and unnecessary, noting that the drivers were focused on achieving a fast final sector to prepare their tyres for qualifying. Verstappen criticized Lawson’s decision-making during the incident, calling it “not very smart.” The FIA stewards deemed the collision “unacceptable,” especially considering a prior warning issued at the Team Managers meeting earlier in the weekend.
As a result of the incident and the previous warning, both Verstappen and Lawson received one-place grid penalties for the race and one penalty point each on their superlicences. The stewards decided to escalate the penalty from a formal warning to grid penalties due to similar past incidents involving the drivers. Permane emphasized that there was no personal conflict between Verstappen and Lawson, framing the clash as a racing incident that could have been avoided.
The collision highlighted the fine margins during practice sessions when drivers push to optimise tyre temperatures and track position. Both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls will now have to manage the consequences of these penalties as the weekend progresses. While the penalties are relatively minor, they serve as a reminder of the strict enforcement of conduct during on-track battles, even in practice sessions.
This decision by the stewards reflects the ongoing efforts to maintain safe and fair racing conditions in the championship. Verstappen and Lawson’s acknowledgment of their mistakes and the subsequent penalties underline the importance placed on responsible driving, regardless of the session. The incident adds a layer of complexity to the weekend for both drivers as they prepare for the remainder of the Mexico Grand Prix programme.