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Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson were both penalized with one-place grid drops following a collision during Friday practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix. BBC Sport reported that race stewards took the rare step of issuing sporting penalties for a practice session infringement after the two drivers clashed in the stadium section.
Practice Collision and Penalties
The incident occurred towards the end of the lap as Verstappen prepared for a flying lap while Lawson was on a cool-down lap following a timed run. The two cars ran side-by-side through three corners before hitting each other side-on. FIA stewards stated that both drivers behaved in an unacceptable manner and admitted their moves were unnecessary and clumsy.
Before the stewards issued their verdict, Verstappen criticized Lawson’s actions, calling it not very smart behavior and stating that fighting for a seat made the move unwise. Lawson is currently competing for a seat at Red Bull junior team Racing Bulls for the following year. Verstappen added that Lawson accelerated when he saw him coming and attempted to push him off the track at the hairpin. Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane described the incident as simply unnecessary from both drivers and stated they could both do better.
Practice Times and Championship Picture
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the fastest time during the session, finishing 0.103 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, with Mercedes driver George Russell just 0.003 seconds further back. Kimi Antonelli placed fourth fastest behind his team-mate Russell as the teenager prepares to potentially clinch his first world title, needing only a ninth-place finish if Russell wins or 10th if Lewis Hamilton wins.
Hamilton finished 11th overall after stopping on track due to a technical problem before his qualifying simulation runs on the soft tyre. Hamilton expressed frustration over his misfortune while feeling positive about the car’s setup and team competitiveness. Russell noted that Ferrari looked the strongest and that qualifying remained wide open.
Team Evaluations and Superlicence Update
Race-simulation runs indicated that a one-stop strategy is the most likely approach for Sunday, with overtaking expected to be difficult due to tire overheating challenges in the thin air of Mexico City’s 2,200m altitude. The opening practice session also featured 10 teams running rookie drivers, including Cadillac’s Colton Herta.
Cadillac initially believed Herta’s running in Mexico provided enough points under the Formula 1 system to secure a superlicence required to race. However, further investigation by the FIA revealed the American Indycar race winner remains one point short and must complete one further practice session this season to secure the credential, which the team plans to fulfill before the year ends.
