Max Verstappen has strongly criticised Liam Lawson following their collision during the second free practice session for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, describing his former Red Bull teammate’s behaviour as “not very smart”. The four-time Formula 1 world champion was particularly critical of the New Zealander’s judgement, pointing out that Lawson is still fighting to secure his place on the grid for 2027.
The two drivers came together at Turn 14 of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez after a prolonged wheel-to-wheel battle through the stadium section. Both cars sustained damage, and debris scattered across the circuit forced race control to suspend the session temporarily with a red flag. Although Max Verstappen eventually finished fifth and Liam Lawson ninth, the incident overshadowed their preparations for the Mexican Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson collide during Mexico GP FP2
The unexpected confrontation occurred approximately 15 minutes into the second practice session. Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson, who previously raced together at Red Bull, found themselves close together on the circuit as the Racing Bulls driver prepared to begin a flying lap while the Dutchman was already completing his own lap.
Max Verstappen received a radio instruction advising him to move ahead of Liam Lawson, but the New Zealander had other ideas. The Red Bull driver attempted to overtake at Turn 12, only for Lawson to remain committed to the corner and resist the manoeuvre.
Neither driver was prepared to give way, and they continued side by side through the following two corners. The confrontation eventually resulted in contact at Turn 14, damaging both cars and leaving debris on the track.
Race control responded by displaying the red flag, allowing marshals to clear the circuit before the session resumed. Both drivers returned to their respective garages for repairs and subsequently continued their practice programmes.
Despite the disruption, Max Verstappen completed FP2 with the fifth-fastest time, while Liam Lawson secured ninth place. However, the damage sustained by the Red Bull RB22 meant the session was far from straightforward for the Dutchman.
Max Verstappen calls Liam Lawson’s driving ‘not very smart’
After the session, Max Verstappen made his displeasure clear when questioned about the collision during the usual post-practice interviews. The four-time world champion rejected the suggestion that the incident had simply been unfortunate, instead questioning the judgement behind his former teammate’s actions.
“I wouldn’t say our collision was unlucky. Maybe his behaviour wasn’t very smart. Who knows what he was trying to do… But in the end, it doesn’t change the weekend,” Max Verstappen said.
The Dutchman was particularly unimpressed that the incident occurred during free practice, when both drivers were attempting to complete their preparations rather than competing for race positions. The unnecessary contact left Red Bull with damage to assess and repair before the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend.
It was another unwelcome complication for Max Verstappen, who had recently discussed Red Bull’s engine-related difficulties following his podium finish at the United States Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen warns Liam Lawson about his uncertain 2027 F1 future
Max Verstappen’s criticism went beyond the collision itself, with the Red Bull driver also referring directly to Liam Lawson’s uncertain future in Formula 1. The Racing Bulls driver has not yet been confirmed for the 2027 season, despite emerging as one of the stronger midfield performers during the current championship.
Lawson has been particularly competitive in the battle for positions in the middle of the field, contributing to his team’s efforts in the fight for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. Nevertheless, the absence of a confirmed contract means his position for next year remains unresolved.
Max Verstappen used that uncertainty to deliver another pointed assessment of the New Zealander’s actions.
“If I were him, I certainly would have behaved a little more intelligently, especially when you’re fighting for a seat and perhaps need to be a little more careful,” the Dutchman remarked.
The comments underline Max Verstappen’s belief that Liam Lawson should have approached the situation with greater caution, particularly given the importance of securing his Formula 1 future.
Laurent Mekies confirms damage to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull RB22
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies subsequently confirmed that Max Verstappen’s car had sustained damage during the collision. Although the Dutchman was able to continue participating in FP2, the team did not have sufficient time to restore all the affected components before he returned to the circuit.
“Max had a session that was clearly affected by the contact with Liam. The car sustained various kinds of damage, so it’s a shame because obviously he had to continue driving without the team having time to restore the damaged components. I don’t want to give precise figures regarding the damage, but we were able to measure it,” Laurent Mekies explained.
The incident therefore had consequences beyond the brief interruption caused by the red flag. Max Verstappen was forced to continue his practice programme with a compromised car, limiting the value of at least part of his running during the session.
For Red Bull, the priority now is to restore the RB22 to its intended condition ahead of the remaining sessions at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix schedule continues with final practice and qualifying on Saturday before Sunday’s race.
The collision also adds another unwanted complication to Red Bull’s preparations as the team attempts to maintain its late-season competitiveness. With Red Bull having drawn level with McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship following Austin, avoiding further setbacks will be important during the remaining rounds of the season.
While Max Verstappen insisted the collision would not fundamentally change his weekend, his unusually direct criticism made clear that he considered the contact unnecessary. For Liam Lawson, the incident also comes at a sensitive moment as he attempts to secure his place in Formula 1 for 2027.
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