Verstappen and Lawson both received one-place grid penalties for a collision during second practice at Mexico City. The two drivers made contact at Turn 14 after Verstappen attempted to overtake Lawson up the inside. Debris fell from Verstappen's car and triggered a red flag.
The stewards ruled both drivers "behaved in a manner that was considered unacceptable." They noted a warning had been given at Friday's team managers' meeting about overtaking in the final sector. Both drivers admitted their moves were "unnecessary and clumsy." The stewards escalated the penalty from a formal warning to grid position penalties, citing similar incidents earlier this year and consistency with previous practice collisions.
Verstappen said Lawson's driving was "not very smart behaviour" for someone fighting for his seat. "When he saw me coming, he suddenly started to accelerate. I don't know what was going through his head, that he wanted to drive me off the track in the hairpin," Verstappen said. "That's not very sensible behaviour from someone in his position, to pick a fight with me."
On track, Lawson said Verstappen "literally drove into me" and questioned what he should do if he backs out every time.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane called the collision "completely unnecessary" and said both drivers could do better. He declined to comment on Verstappen's remarks without hearing them first.
The incident is notable because Racing Bulls is Red Bull's junior team and Lawson's seat for 2027 remains uncertain. Lawson sits ninth in the championship, 39 points ahead of teammate Arvid Lindblad.