Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson have both received one-place grid penalties for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix following their collision during Friday’s second free practice session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The FIA stewards also handed each driver one penalty point on their superlicence after determining that both were responsible for an incident they described as unacceptable.
The decision was announced on Friday evening following an investigation involving both drivers and representatives of their respective teams. A warning issued to teams just hours before the incident proved decisive, with the stewards opting for grid penalties rather than the formal warnings normally associated with similar incidents during practice.
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson penalised after Mexico GP FP2 collision
The incident occurred in the final sector of the Mexican circuit, inside the Foro Sol stadium section. Max Verstappen was completing a preparation lap when he attempted to overtake the Racing Bulls car of Liam Lawson, who was on a cool-down lap before beginning another timed attempt.
The two drivers entered the sequence of Turns 12, 13 and 14 side by side, engaging in a series of manoeuvres that eventually resulted in contact. The collision damaged aerodynamic components on Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, adding another complication to the Dutchman’s preparations for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen expressed his frustration after the session and openly criticised the actions of his former teammate. However, the stewards did not agree that Liam Lawson alone was responsible, instead concluding that both drivers had contributed to the incident.
The decision adds to the scrutiny surrounding Max Verstappen and Red Bull following a frustrating United States Grand Prix, although the Mexico penalty concerns a separate on-track incident.
FIA explains why both drivers received grid penalties
The official FIA decision described the behaviour of both drivers as “unacceptable”, particularly because team managers had been specifically warned about such manoeuvres during a meeting earlier on Friday.
After hearing from Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson and reviewing the available footage, the stewards established that both drivers acknowledged their actions had been “unnecessary and clumsy”. Their admission, combined with the previous warning, played an important role in determining the punishment.
The FIA also took into account the recurrence of similar incidents during free practice sessions throughout the 2026 season. Although comparable situations have generally resulted in formal warnings, the stewards decided that stronger action was appropriate on this occasion.
The governing body’s explanation made clear that the decision was influenced by the warning issued earlier in the day and by previous cases involving contact between cars during practice. Consequently, both drivers received a one-place grid drop and one superlicence penalty point.
Alan Permane criticises unnecessary Verstappen-Lawson incident
The punishment is particularly notable because neither driver was completing a timed lap when the contact occurred. Max Verstappen was preparing for a faster attempt, while Liam Lawson was finishing a cool-down lap before returning to competitive running.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane explained that both drivers had been attempting to negotiate the final sector quickly to prepare their tyre temperatures for their next laps. The particular characteristics of the Mexican circuit contributed to the situation, but he did not believe they justified the resulting collision.
Alan Permane described the incident as unnecessary, also playing down the tensions that emerged following Max Verstappen’s criticism of Liam Lawson. His assessment was that both drivers could have handled the situation better, particularly during a practice session.
What the penalties mean for the Mexico City Grand Prix starting grid
Both Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson will now lose one position on the starting grid for the Mexico City Grand Prix, regardless of where they qualify. Their penalties will be applied when the grid is established following Saturday’s qualifying session.
Although a single-place grid drop is relatively modest, the consequences are significant because the penalties affect the drivers’ starting positions for Sunday’s race rather than simply resulting in a warning during practice.
The stewards’ decision also sends a clear message to the rest of the Formula 1 paddock. Following repeated incidents and an explicit warning to team managers, the FIA has demonstrated its willingness to impose sporting penalties for unnecessary contact even when neither driver is on a timed lap.
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson must therefore approach the remaining sessions knowing that their starting positions will be affected by the incident. For the Dutchman, the punishment adds another obstacle as he attempts to maximise his result in Mexico following the engine-related difficulties he discussed after the Austin Grand Prix.
Further details about the weekend’s remaining sessions are available in the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix schedule and start-time guide.
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