FIA Investigates Verstappen and Lawson Collision in Mexican GP Practice
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson are under FIA scrutiny following a collision during practice at the Mexican Grand Prix. The incident, which caused minor damage, led to a red flag and a post-session investigation.
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson found themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons during Friday's practice session at the Mexican Grand Prix. The former Red Bull teammates were involved in an odd collision that left debris on the track and prompted a red flag during FP2.
The incident occurred as the pair navigated the stadium section. Verstappen, piloting his Red Bull, attempted to pass Lawson, who was driving for Racing Bulls, on the inside at Turn 13. Lawson, however, was not about to yield easily. Verstappen, perhaps a bit miffed, gestured his frustration as the New Zealander held his line.
The altercation resulted in contact as Verstappen rejoined the track, leading to damage that was more irritating than catastrophic. Lawson needed a new front wing, while Verstappen's bargeboard bore the brunt of the clash. This prompted a brief red flag while marshals tidied up the mess.
The FIA stewards took note of the incident and decided it warranted further investigation, calling in both drivers for a post-session chat. Sky F1 analyst Bernie Collins, who has a wealth of experience from her time at McLaren and Aston Martin, suggested that both drivers might rue their choices. "In FP2, losing any car component isn’t ideal," she noted, pointing out that the damage could affect performance for the remainder of the weekend.
Collins speculated that in the cool light of the debrief, both drivers would likely question whether the risky maneuver was worth the trouble. "Both had a chance to avoid it," Collins said, "and I think they’ll ask themselves if that corner was really worth it. It wasn’t."
By the end of FP2, Verstappen had managed to secure fifth place, trailing Ferrari's Charles Leclerc by three-tenths, with Leclerc leading both practice sessions. Lawson, on the other hand, finished ninth, just a fraction behind his Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad.
With Racing Bulls yet to finalize their 2027 driver lineup, Lawson is competing for a seat alongside Lindblad and Nikola Tsolov, who participated in FP1.
As the weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on how this incident might influence the rest of the Grand Prix, as well as the ongoing driver line-up decisions at Racing Bulls.