Verstappen Blasts Lawson's 'Not Very Smart Behaviour' After Mexican GP Practice Clash

Max Verstappen has questioned Liam Lawson's judgement after the two collided during second practice for the Mexican Grand Prix, saying the Racing Bulls driver made a poor call for someone whose contract runs out at the end of 2026.

The pair came together at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez while both were on flying laps, and Lawson has since been summoned to the stewards for driving erratically.

Why it matters:

Lawson is fighting to secure his future on the grid, and picking a scrap with the four-time world champion is an unnecessary distraction. Verstappen's remarks also carry weight inside Red Bull's wider organisation, which controls both teams.

The details:

• Verstappen rejected the idea that the contact was simply bad luck. "Maybe not very smart behaviour, what he was trying to do there," he told Sky Sports F1.
• The Dutchman explained he was pushing on a fast out-lap after early issues, while Lawson was running slowly.
  • "As soon as he saw me arrive, he started to speed up as well," he said. "Trying to just run me off the track."
• "If I were him I would act a little bit smarter. When you're fighting for your seat, it's not very smart behaviour."
• No stewards' verdict had been published at the time of writing, leaving a possible grid penalty hanging over Lawson's weekend.

By the numbers:

Lawson sits ninth in the standings on 77 points, comfortably ahead of rookie team-mate Arvid Lindblad on 38 in 11th. Verstappen is fourth with 236.

What's next:

The stewards' decision will shape Lawson's Sunday, though Verstappen insisted the incident will not alter his own weekend. The bigger question is whether the New Zealander can afford another flashpoint while his future is on the line.