Racing Bulls boss rejects Max Verstappen's claim after Lawson collision
Photo: Race Pictures
Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has rejected Max Verstappen's claim that Liam Lawson picked a fight with him during second practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The two Red Bull family drivers had a feisty exchange in the stadium section on Friday at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, going wheel to wheel and then colliding at the penultimate corner. The incident saw the FP2 session red-flagged and left Verstappen with damage he had to carry for the remaining 45 minutes.
Verstappen was far from impressed by his former Red Bull teammate, whose F1 future remains in question despite strong performances this season. Addressing the collision with Lawson post-FP2, Verstappen said: "For me it’s not very smart behaviour when you’re in this position to pick a fight with me.”
After the session, the stewards then gave Verstappen and Lawson a one-place grid drop for Sunday's Grand Prix, as well as a penalty point for an incident both drivers admitted was "unnecessary and clumsy."
ADVERTISEMENT
Permane says nobody was picking a fight
Photo: Race Pictures
Explaining what had happened in the build up to the incident, Racing Bulls boss Permane pointed to the drivers' need to warm up tyres in the final sector of the Mexico City GP circuit, with lock-ups constant after the long start-finish straight at Turn 1 during practice.
"So, look, when you're doing a lap here, an out lap or a cool down lap, one thing that's really important is to do the last sector fast," Permane said.
"Doing that gives you tyres for Turn 1. Without that, you risk front locking and things like that. They were both going for that, and I think if I describe it with one word, it's just unnecessary."
ADVERTISEMENT
Asked on Verstappen's comments, Permane did not accept the idea that his driver had gone looking for trouble. "That's not the case. I'm sure they've both got an opinion on it. I think in the cold light of day, they'll be calm and think, actually, we could have both done better," he said.
"I don't think anyone's picking a fight with anyone, that's for sure. I think it's just one of those things. And as I said: unnecessary."
Mekies stops short of backing Verstappen
Photo: Race Pictures
Verstappen's own team principal Laurent Mekies refused to point blame at any one driver, but he admitted the incident was "very unnecessary." The Frenchman appeared more concerned by the damage sustained on the Dutchman's car.
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Mekies said: "Max had a bit of a disturbed session obviously with the contact with Liam. So quite a bit of car damage there, so it's a bit of a shame because obviously we had to carry on like that with the car.
“But again, Max as well is building up. The picture is a bit blurred, but no doubt we'll have a bit of work to do tonight to put them in a better window.”
Asked further on the collision itself, Mekies added: “None of them is in a fast lap. So all I can say is that it looks very, very unnecessary. These things happen, it should not happen, but it happens."
"The only thing that interests me after that is that the car is damaged. That's the issue we have, but we'll get it right tomorrow.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on Google