Verstappen and Lawson Given Grid Penalties After FP2 Clash

Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson were each given a one-place grid penalty and one penalty point after colliding during second practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix, with stewards ruling that both drivers’ conduct was unacceptable. The contact between the Red Bull and Racing Bulls drivers scattered debris across the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit and brought out a brief red flag while the track was cleared. Verstappen’s car was damaged, affecting the remainder of his session. He finished fifth, while Lawson was ninth. The incident unfolded in the stadium section after Verstappen tried to pass Lawson approaching Turn 12. The stewards’ decision said Verstappen was on a preparation lap and Lawson was on a cooldown lap before another push lap. The drivers continued side by side, and their cars made contact as the battle developed through the final turns. After hearing from both drivers, the stewards said they had behaved unacceptably, particularly because team managers had been warned earlier that day about similar clashes in practice. They said both drivers acknowledged their moves were unnecessary and clumsy. The stewards escalated the response from a formal warning to a...