Overview
- During FP2 on Friday the pair ran wheel-to-wheel through the Foro Sol stadium section at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, made contact that damaged both cars and left debris that prompted a brief red flag.
- The race stewards reviewed video and testimony, found both drivers’ moves unnecessary, and upgraded a formal warning to a one-place grid drop plus one penalty point on each driver’s licence.
- Both Verstappen and Lawson admitted the clash was 'clumsy' in the stewards' hearing while Verstappen publicly criticised Lawson's judgement and Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane called the incident unnecessary.
- The collision damaged Verstappen’s bargeboard and disrupted his FP2 programme, forcing the team to carry out repairs overnight that could complicate qualifying preparation.
- Stewards said the tougher penalties followed a Team Managers meeting warning and similar practice incidents this season, and the penalty point on Lawson feeds into wider scrutiny over his unconfirmed 2027 Racing Bulls seat.