Verstappen Slams Lawson after Mexico GP practice collision as both receive Grid penalties

Max Verstappen has criticised Liam Lawson, branding the New Zealander’s actions “not very smart” following a collision during Friday’s practice session ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Both drivers were handed one-place grid penalties after stewards investigated the incident, which disrupted an eventful practice session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc set the fastest time for Ferrari, finishing ahead of reigning world champion Lando Norris of McLaren. Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli also impressed, securing fourth place as the championship battle approaches its decisive stages.

The incident involving Verstappen and Lawson occurred as the two drivers battled for track position approaching the Foro Sol section of the circuit. Their clash caused damage to Verstappen’s Red Bull and scattered debris across the track, forcing officials to red-flag the session while the circuit was cleared.

Verstappen was quick to express his frustration, insisting that Lawson was responsible for the incident.

“It was not unlucky,” the Dutchman said. “It was not very smart behaviour by him in what he was trying to do there. But it is not going to change my weekend.”

Both drivers were subsequently summoned by the stewards, who described their conduct as unacceptable before issuing each of them a one-place grid penalty.

Verstappen continued his criticism, suggesting Lawson should have shown better judgement, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding his future in Formula One.

“I think it is just not very smart behaviour when you are fighting for your seat,” the five-time world champion added.

Lawson’s Future at Racing Bulls Remains Uncertain

Verstappen’s comments come at a difficult time for Lawson, who recently admitted that he remains uncertain about whether he will retain his place at Racing Bulls for next season.

Despite producing several impressive performances throughout the campaign, the New Zealander’s long-term future remains unclear as Red Bull continues to assess its driver options.

One potential candidate for promotion is Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov, who made history on Friday by becoming the first Bulgarian driver to participate in an official Formula One Grand Prix practice session when he took part in FP1.

Lawson, however, has enjoyed a strong season and has comfortably outperformed rookie team-mate Arvid Lindblad.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the 23-year-old acknowledged the challenges of finding consistency in Formula One but insisted he had made the most of his opportunities this year.

“I’m not really sure what more is expected, but I’m not really sitting here thinking too much about the whole seat selection thing,” Lawson explained.

He added that he was trying to avoid repeating the mistakes of last season by concentrating on his performances rather than worrying about his future.

“I overthought things last year so I’m trying a different mindset this year to score as many points as I can.”

Lawson currently sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship with 77 points, while Lindblad occupies 11th position with 38 points.

Their performances have also helped Racing Bulls establish themselves in fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship, behind Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren.

Verstappen Looking for Improvements Ahead of Qualifying

Despite the collision, Lawson finished Friday’s second practice session in ninth place, while Verstappen ended the session fifth.

The Dutchman finished behind George Russell of Mercedes and 20-year-old Antonelli, who continues to attract attention with his impressive performances.

Antonelli could achieve a remarkable championship milestone on Sunday, with a top-nine finish potentially making him the youngest world champion in Formula One history, depending on the championship standings and other results.

Verstappen, meanwhile, admitted that his Red Bull still needed some adjustments but remained optimistic about his prospects for the remainder of the weekend.

A five-time winner in Mexico, the Dutchman believes his team is not far away from finding the right performance.

“It could have gone better, but we’re not too far off and just have some fine tuning to do,” Verstappen said.

“No one has much grip here but it is the same for us all and nothing new.”

With qualifying and Sunday’s race approaching, Verstappen will be hoping to put Friday’s frustrations behind him and challenge for another strong result in Mexico.