VERSTAPPEN AND LAWSON HANDED ONE-PLACE GRID DROPS FOR “UNACCEPTABLE” PRACTICE COLLISION

Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson each took one-place grid penalties for a turn-16 collision in Friday practice at Mexico. The stewards ruled both drivers equally at fault after Lawson refused to yield during Verstappen's hot lap, leaving no room at turn 13 and triggering contact when Verstappen rejoined. Both admitted the moves were "unnecessary and clumsy."

The FIA escalated from a warning to a grid drop because similar incidents had plagued practice sessions all year, and team managers were explicitly warned hours earlier. Each driver also picked up a penalty point.

Verstappen didn't hold back afterward, calling Lawson's behavior "not very smart" — especially for a driver fighting to secure his 2027 Racing Bulls seat. The jab carries weight: Verstappen's already locked in at Red Bull alongside Isack Hadjar next season, while Lawson's future remains unconfirmed. A practice dustup with the three-time champion probably wasn't the audition Racing Bulls wanted to see.