Verstappen and Lawson practice collision has consequences as FIA hands both one-place grid penalties
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The collision between Liam Lawson and Max Verstappen left both drivers angry, but neither was willing to admit he had been stubborn and contributed to the incident. Each pointed the finger at the other, but the stewards felt both should take a look at themselves. Their penalties reflected that verdict, with both protagonists dropping one place on the grid.
Max Verstappen described the collision as completely unnecessary. “I was on a fast out lap because I had some little issues, so I was pushing on quite a bit,” the four-time champion explained. “He was driving really slowly, so I was like, ‘All right, let’s go for it.'”
The Red Bull driver tried to get ahead at Turn 12. “But as soon as he saw me arrive, he started to speed up… I don’t know what was going through his head when that happened, trying to just run me off the track. For me, it’s just not very smart behaviour when you’re in his position to pick a fight with me.”
Lawson was preparing for another flying lap at the time and did not want to lose track position or let his tyres cool by waiting unnecessarily. After the collision, he complained over the radio about Verstappen, who he claimed did this sort of thing to him “every weekend”. “He just drove into me. He drives into me every weekend.”
The stewards decided both drivers should reflect on their behaviour. Although the incident took place in practice, both received a one-place grid penalty for the Mexican Grand Prix, along with a penalty point.
“The drivers of both cars behaved in a manner that was considered unacceptable by the Stewards, particularly in view of the warning that had been given at the Team Managers meeting earlier this day,” the stewards noted, without specifying exactly what the warning concerned.
“Both drivers admitted the moves were unnecessary and ‘clumsy’. Noting that there had been similar incidents this year of actions between drivers in Free Practice, the Stewards have decided to escalate the penalty from that of a formal warning to a grid position penalty, particularly in view of the warning that had been provided at the Team Managers meeting and consistent with other incidents involving contact between the cars in Free Practice in previous years,” the FIA added.
Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane believes both drivers will see things differently once they have cooled down. “I’m sure both drivers got their opinion on it. I think in the cold light of day, they’ll be calm and think, actually, we could have both done better. I don’t think anyone’s picking a fight with anyone, that’s for sure. I think it’s just one of those things. And as I said: unnecessary.”