Verstappen Offers Lawson Some Career Advice After FP2 Collision

Max Verstappen had some words of advice for Liam Lawson following their on-track collision during the second practice session at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, who found himself in an altercation with Racing Bulls' Lawson, suggested that the young driver might need to be a bit more calculated, especially when his seat for the next season isn't secured.

The practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez wasn't particularly smooth for either driver. Verstappen ended up fifth on the timesheets with a best time of 1:18.138, while Lawson finished ninth, clocking a 1:18.455. Both drivers had sat out the first session as their teams fielded reserve drivers, with Red Bull testing Ayumu Iwasa and Racing Bulls giving a run to Nikola Tsolov, potentially eyeing him as Lawson's replacement for 2027.

The incident that prompted Verstappen's remarks occurred in the stadium section of the track, requiring a red flag after debris was scattered. Verstappen attempted an overtake at Turn 12, but Lawson refused to yield, leading to contact that saw Verstappen take evasive action over the kerbs and into Lawson's side. Verstappen commented on the clash, noting, "I don’t think it was unlucky, maybe not very smart behavior what he was trying to do."

The situation for Lawson is particularly precarious. Red Bull is reportedly undecided between keeping Lawson at Racing Bulls or promoting the young Tsolov. Verstappen's advice was candid: "If I were him, I would act a little bit smarter – also, when you’re fighting for your seat, it’s not very smart behavior."

Jamie Chadwick, a three-time W Series champion, echoed Verstappen's sentiments. She pointed out that Lawson might have miscalculated by challenging a senior team car, especially when that team influences his career prospects. "If it’s any other driver on the grid, you can stand your ground a little bit. But when it’s the senior team, does he need to do that? Probably not," Chadwick noted.

Verstappen's car sustained damage to the left-hand bargeboard, affecting his session due to the reduced downforce, a significant factor at Mexico City's high-altitude track. Despite being the acknowledged team leader at Racing Bulls, Lawson's aggressive stance may not have been the wisest choice. It's a reminder that in F1, sometimes it's the off-track decisions that can have the most impact.