# Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson get one-place grid penalties for Mexican Grand Prix _Both drivers were punished after colliding in second practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez._ - Publisher: Apex Sports News (https://apexsportsnews.in) - Canonical URL: https://apexsportsnews.in/news/max-verstappen-and-liam-lawson-get-one-place-grid-penalties-for-mexican-grand - Author: Rohit, Sports writer (https://apexsportsnews.in/author/rohit) - Published: 2026-10-31T05:54:11.111Z - Section: Formula 1 - Topics: Max Verstappen, Formula 1, Red Bull, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls, Mexican Grand Prix ## Summary Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson have each received a one-place grid penalty for the Mexican Grand Prix following an FP2 collision. Both drivers also received one demerit point after the stewards judged their actions unacceptable. ## Key takeaways - Verstappen and Lawson each received a one-place grid penalty for the Mexican Grand Prix. - Both drivers were handed one demerit point after the FP2 collision. - The stewards described their behaviour as unacceptable and unnecessary. - Verstappen called Lawson’s actions ‘not very smart’ after practice. ## Article Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson were both handed a one-place grid penalty for Monday’s Mexican Grand Prix after a collision during Friday’s second practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Both drivers were also given one demerit point. The stewards summoned both drivers after FP2 and, following a lengthy deliberation, escalated the penalty from a formal warning to a grid position penalty because both drivers admitted their moves were unnecessary and clumsy and because similar incidents had occurred in Free Practice this year. The FIA’s official judgment stated that the drivers behaved in a manner considered unacceptable, particularly in view of a warning given at the Team Managers meeting earlier that day. Verstappen attempted a dive down the inside on Lawson at Turn 12. Lawson then tried to retake the position at the stadium section, forcing Verstappen to jump over the exit kerb and damage his floor. Both cars needed repairs afterward, with Lawson’s front wing and Verstappen’s bargeboards damaged. The incident briefly brought out the red flag before Verstappen finished fifth and Lawson ninth once the session resumed. Verstappen called Lawson’s actions “not very smart behaviour,” adding that if he were Lawson he would act a bit smarter, especially while fighting for his seat. Lawson missed the first session to allow Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov his first taste of a Formula One weekend in a Racing Bulls car. 476 seconds off the pace set by Leclerc. 628 seconds off Leclerc’s pace. 066 seconds ahead of Lawson. 103 seconds back, after sitting out the first session. 217 seconds off the pace, on a weekend where he can claim the drivers championship by finishing ninth or higher. Teams will get one final practice session on Sunday morning before qualifying begins at 10am. The Mexican Grand Prix, currently held under the name Mexico City Grand Prix, is held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. It first appeared as a non-championship event in 1962 before being held as a championship event in 1963–1970 and 1986–1992. The Grand Prix returned in 2015 and has been held from 2015 to 2019 and since 2021; it was due to host the event in 2020, but that was cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The venue is contracted to host the event until 2028. ### Related on Apex Sports News - [F1 Mexican Grand Prix 2026: Race start time and TV coverage in Mexico City](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/f1-mexican-grand-prix-2026-race-start-time-and-tv-coverage-in-mexico-city) - [How to stream the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix on F1 TV Premium](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/how-to-stream-the-2026-mexico-city-grand-prix-on-f1-tv-premium) - [Kimi Antonelli can win F1 title at Mexico City Grand Prix](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/kimi-antonelli-can-win-f1-title-at-mexico-city-grand-prix) ### Sources - [Sportstar](https://sportstar.thehindu.com/motorsport/f1/verstappen-lawson-grid-penalty-mexican-grand-prix-fp2-collision/article71648258.ece) - [nzherald.co.nz](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/motorsport/formula-1/formula-1-liam-lawson-max-verstappen-handed-grid-penalties-for-collision-in-mexican-grand-prix-practice/33RIRMHKYFHNXKNGHNUIEYJOQQ/) - [Photo: Lukas Raich, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FIA_F1_Austria_2021_Post-Race_Scene.jpg) --- Source: Apex Sports News, https://apexsportsnews.in/news/max-verstappen-and-liam-lawson-get-one-place-grid-penalties-for-mexican-grand. Please cite and link the original article when quoting.