Racing Bulls' Permane Pushes Back on Verstappen's Lawson Criticism After FP2 Clash

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has pushed back on Max Verstappen's sharp criticism of Liam Lawson after the pair collided during FP2 at the Mexico City Grand Prix, describing the flashpoint as “unnecessary” rather than a deliberate confrontation.

Why it matters:

The incident thrust Lawson’s precarious F1 position back into focus and highlighted Verstappen’s readiness to publicly question a Red Bull-affiliated driver. Permane’s response was aimed at cooling the tension before the stewards’ verdict and the rest of the Mexico weekend.

The details:

• Permane said both drivers were trying to complete the final sector quickly on out-laps to prepare their tyres for Turn 1, a routine but important part of the lap.
• He rejected the idea that Lawson was “picking a fight” with Verstappen, suggesting both would likely admit they could have handled the moment better in the cold light of day.
• Verstappen had implied Lawson should think harder about his actions given his battle to secure his F1 future; Permane disputed that framing.
• Both drivers visited the stewards, with the outcome still pending when Permane spoke.

What's next:

The stewards’ decision could add another layer to a tense weekend, but Permane’s priority is clear: keep Racing Bulls focused on performance and stop a practice collision from becoming a wider Red Bull family storyline.