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Apology Follows Practice Collision
Liam Lawson apologised to Max Verstappen on Saturday after the pair collided during practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix, stating that the contact had not been intentional. The Racing Bulls driver explained that he approached the four-times world champion on Saturday morning to clear the air following their incident in Friday's second practice session, which brought out a red flag and triggered an investigation by the stewards. Speaking to reporters after qualifying, Lawson confirmed that he had visited Verstappen personally to apologise.
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Verstappen Criticism and Lawson Reaction
Lawson acknowledged that the collision was not good for either competitor and stated that he would learn from the incident going forward. Verstappen had been critical of his former Red Bull teammate following the clash, questioning Lawson's judgement and suggesting the contact was especially unwise in light of the New Zealander's uncertain future in Formula One. Responding to those remarks, Lawson stated that ultimately only Verstappen knows how he feels, reiterating that having contact had not been his intention and expressing his apologies once again.
Grid Penalties and Starting Positions
The stewards subsequently handed both drivers one-place grid penalties and a penalty point each for the incident. Those penalties dropped Verstappen from fourth to fifth and demoted Lawson from eighth to ninth on Sunday's starting grid, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton secured pole position.
Lawson Focuses on 2027 Opportunities
With his 2027 future still uncertain, the 24-year-old Lawson stated that he is focused on capitalising on his remaining opportunities. Emphasising that Formula One is a tough sport, the New Zealander explained that he is trying to perform at his best and score points in every race that he can.
