Verstappen: Lawson 'not smart' to pick a fight while fighting for his seat

Max Verstappen has called Liam Lawson's defensive move in Mexican Grand Prix practice "not very smart behaviour," arguing it makes little sense for a driver fighting to keep his Racing Bulls seat to "pick a fight" with him.

The two collided late in FP2 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, triggering a red flag as marshals cleared debris at the exit of Turn 13.

Why it matters:

Verstappen rarely spends press time on drivers in the junior team, but Lawson's future is directly in play. Racing Bulls has yet to lock in its 2027 line-up, with Lawson, Arvid Lindblad and Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov — handed FP1 running in Mexico — all under consideration. Picking a scrap with the sport's benchmark is an awkward look while the contract is still unsigned.

The details:

• Verstappen was on a fast out-lap after a "little issue" and closed quickly on a slow-moving Lawson into the stadium section.
• Lawson held his ground at Turn 13 and pushed the Red Bull toward the edge of the track; coming back over the kerb, the two made contact.
• Damage was limited: Lawson needed a new front wing, while Verstappen's bargeboard was "broken up," costing him downforce.
• Stewards noted the incident and upgraded it to a post-session investigation, summoning both drivers.
• "As soon as he saw me arrive, he started to speed up as well," Verstappen said. "I don't know what was going through his head in that hairpin, trying to just run me off the track."
• Verstappen finished FP2 fifth, Lawson ninth.

What's next:

The stewards' verdict — a reprimand, a grid drop or nothing at all — will shape the rest of Lawson's weekend, and quite possibly how the paddock reads his case for a new deal.