Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson will both drop one spot on Sunday's grid after a clumsy FP2 shunt that ripped off Verstappen's left bargeboard and brought out the red flags. The contact came in the stadium section when Verstappen, on a prep lap, tried to muscle past Lawson—who was cooling down—through Turns 12-14. Verstappen got through but only after cutting across and tagging the Racing Bulls car.
The stewards called both drivers' actions "unacceptable," particularly since teams had been warned about exactly this sort of thing at Friday's managers' meeting. Verstappen dismissed it as "not very smart behaviour" from a driver "fighting for your seat," a pointed dig at Lawson's uncertain 2027 status. Both took one penalty point as well.
The grid drop is symbolic for Verstappen, who shrugged it off. For Lawson, auditioning for a full-time ride, it's the last kind of attention he needs. The young Kiwi has impressed on pace—making an enemy of the championship leader less so.
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