Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson penalized after Mexico Grand Prix practice clash

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson were both handed one-place grid penalties after colliding during Friday practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Radio Kerry and BBC Sport both reported the penalties following the incident on track. [1][2]

BBC Sport reported that the two drivers disputed the same section of track during the practice session. The four-time world champion and the New Zealander ran through three corners side by side before their cars hit each other side-on in the stadium section. [2]

Following the collision, Verstappen accused Lawson of not very smart behavior and claimed that Lawson attempted to drive him off the track at the hairpin, according to BBC Sport. Radio Kerry noted that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was fourth in the session while poised to clinch his first world title. [1][2]

Verstappen is a Dutch and Belgian racing driver who competes under the Dutch flag for Red Bull Racing and has won four Formula One World Drivers Championship titles. Lawson is a New Zealand racing driver who competes in Formula One for Racing Bulls. [8][9]