Verstappen and Lawson each get one-place grid drop for Mexico City practice clash

A warning that was ignored

A scrap between two cars on slow laps has cost Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson a place on the grid for Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix. The stewards handed each driver a one-place penalty and one penalty point after their contact during second practice on Friday, 30 October 2026. It is a small sanction in sporting terms, but the stewards were blunt about why they gave it.

What happened

According to the stewards' findings as reported by The Race, PlanetF1, Autosport and RacingNews365, Verstappen was on a preparation lap and Lawson on a cool-down lap before another push. Verstappen tried to pass Lawson in the stadium section. Lawson defended, the two ran side by side, and Verstappen was squeezed off the racing line at Turn 13. He went over the kerb at Turn 14, and the cars touched. Lawson needed a new front wing, Verstappen's Red Bull lost part of a bargeboard, and the debris brought out a short red flag.

The stewards called the behaviour of both drivers unacceptable. They pointed to the warning given at the team managers' meeting earlier that day and to similar practice incidents this season and in earlier years. For that reason they lifted the outcome from a formal warning to a grid penalty. Both drivers admitted the moves had been unnecessary and "clumsy".

Reaction

Verstappen told Sky Sports it was "not very smart behaviour" and said Lawson, who is fighting for his seat, should act a little smarter. Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane also called the incident unnecessary and said both drivers could have done better. Lawson has not been confirmed at Racing Bulls for 2027, and Arvid Lindblad is in the same position, so the headlines landed at a sensitive moment for him.

By the numbers

The penalty point is the first in 12 months for Verstappen and the fourth on Lawson's licence, according to the reports. In our OpenF1 data, Verstappen is sixth in the standings on 188 points after 18 races, with two wins, ten podiums and four retirements. Lawson is ninth on 65 points with a best finish of fifth and 13 top-10 finishes,.

A one-place drop matters only if the two start close to a rival. Qualifying takes place later on Saturday, and the race follows on Sunday 1 November.