Lawson apologises to Verstappen after practice clash drops champion to fifth on Mexico grid

Max Verstappen will start the Mexico City Grand Prix from fifth on the grid after receiving a penalty for his contact with Liam Lawson during Friday’s second free practice session — a consequence the four-time world champion described with barely concealed frustration on Saturday.

Lawson visited Verstappen in the paddock on Saturday morning to clear the air. “Obviously, it’s not ideal and something that should never happen in practice,” the Racing Bulls driver said. “I went to see Max this morning to apologise, because obviously it was never my intention to make contact. It’s not good for both of us, I’ll learn from it going forward.”

Verstappen had been blunt in Friday’s media pen, saying he had “no idea what went through Liam’s head” and that he did not consider it “very smart behaviour” from a driver still fighting for his seat in the 2027 season. The penalty that followed — dropping him one place from fourth to fifth — came as an additional surprise given the circumstances.

What drew particular attention was the wording in the FIA stewards’ document, which acknowledged the incident would normally merit only a warning but stated that stewards wished to set an example. The decision was informed by a discussion at the team managers’ meeting and by a pattern of similar incidents in practice sessions that officials felt needed addressing.

Asked whether he was surprised to be used as an example, Verstappen was measured. “No, that doesn’t surprise me, because it’s happened more often in the past — with other things as well. But yeah, that’s just how it is. There’s nothing you can do about it. Look, if they think this is already worthy of a penalty, then it’s worthy of a penalty.”

When pressed on whether he feels he is frequently singled out by the stewards, the Dutchman declined to elaborate. “I don’t want to say too much about that. It is what it is.”

The incident has added an awkward dimension to Lawson’s campaign to secure his Racing Bulls seat beyond this season. When Verstappen was asked directly who deserves the drive for 2027, he acknowledged only that emerging talent makes the decision a difficult one — stopping well short of an endorsement or a verdict either way.