Verstappen sends Lawson a message: I just won’t let anyone push me off the track

Penalties for race incidents are common, as are sanctions for offences in qualifying, but a grid penalty for an incident in free practice is something rare. That is exactly what happened to Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson after Friday’s running, as both paid the price for their stubbornness.

Max and Liam will each drop one place on the grid for Sunday’s race. In their ruling, the stewards made it clear that both could have done more to avoid an entirely unnecessary collision. Their teams, meanwhile, will have to spend tens of thousands of euros on replacement parts, with that expenditure counting towards the cost cap. That only underlines how both drivers’ stubbornness undermined their teams’ efforts, while mechanics and other staff had to stay at work a little longer because of a needless incident.

Verstappen went further after practice, telling Lawson he should not be doing such things when he is fighting for a seat. It was a reminder that Racing Bulls has yet to announce its driver line-up for the 2027 season, something many find incomprehensible given that Lawson is the undisputed leader of the midfield.

Max refused to back down in Saturday’s interview with Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, either. “Look, you’re fighting for your seat, so you definitely shouldn’t be picking a fight with me,” Verstappen said, in an almost threatening tone. “I’ve always supported him. I get along with him very well, and I’ve always spoken very positively about him within the team.”

Perhaps someone could also remind Max that, when he was young, this was exactly how he got under the skin of drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. Once you are a four-time world champion, you naturally have a target on your back. After all these years, everyone knows that Verstappen does not take kindly to anyone doing what Lawson did to him. It makes no difference whether it is the title decider or free practice two.

“Of course, it sucked for him last year. I think it’s really unfortunate when something like that happens. I’m really not a difficult person,” Verstappen continued.

“When I put on my helmet, I always try to get the most out of it, but not in practice. I just won’t let anyone push me off the track. That doesn’t happen to me,” said Max, marking out his territory in front of the microphone.

He also reminded Lawson of the hierarchy within the organisation. Although Red Bull tries to present its main team and sister outfit as two separate entities that co-operate only in ways permitted by the rules, Max made it clear what is expected of Racing Bulls drivers.

“When you are in the same family, you’re always taught that you have to have a lot of respect for the A-team. I didn’t do this at Toro Rosso. You don’t go driving the Red Bull drivers off the track; you just don’t do that,” Verstappen said.

He finished with one more piece of advice for Lawson: “Just think logically about the situation you are in,” said Max, once again making an indirect reference to Lawson’s uncertain future.