Verstappen, Lawson hit with grid drops for FP2 clash
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson each received a one-place grid penalty and one superlicence penalty point after stewards ruled their wheel-to-wheel contact during Friday FP2 unacceptable and clumsy. The penalties followed prior team warnings about similar practice incidents.
Stewards issue penalties
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson each received a one-place grid drop and one superlicence penalty point for their contact during FP2 at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix.[1]
The incident occurred early in the session when Verstappen, on a preparation lap, moved inside Lawson, who was on a cooldown lap ahead of another push lap, approaching Turn 12. The cars ran side by side through the following corners before contact damaged both cars and scattered debris, triggering a red flag.[2]
Stewards reviewed footage and data, spoke with both drivers, and noted that each admitted the moves were unnecessary and clumsy. They highlighted a prior warning issued at the team managers meeting earlier that day regarding similar practice incidents this season. The stewards escalated the sanction beyond a formal warning to a grid position penalty, consistent with previous cases involving car-to-car contact in free practice.[1]
Verstappen finished the resumed session fifth while Lawson placed ninth.
Related reading
- [1]Verstappen and Lawson get grid penalties after 'clumsy' Mexico City practice clash (formula1). Accessed 2026-10-31.
- [2]Verstappen and Lawson get grid drops for 'clumsy' Mexico clash (the-race). Accessed 2026-10-31.