The word the stewards reached for was unacceptable.

Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson were each handed a one-place grid penalty and a penalty point on Friday evening after their collision in second practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, with the FIA panel citing the warning given at the team managers’ meeting that morning as the reason to escalate the sanction beyond a reprimand.

In their ruling, the stewards wrote that the drivers “behaved in a manner that was considered unacceptable” and that both admitted the moves had been “unnecessary and clumsy.” Similar free-practice incidents earlier in the year had been dealt with by formal warnings, but this time, “in view of the warning that had been provided at the Team Managers meeting,” a grid drop was issued.

The move into the stadium section

Verstappen, running a prep lap, dived down the inside of Lawson’s Racing Bulls at Turn 12 as the Racing Bulls driver was on a cool-down. The pair ran side-by-side into the stadium section, Lawson pushed Verstappen wide, and the Red Bull then clipped the Racing Bulls as it rejoined off the kerb. Both cars picked up damage.

Read also: Lamar Jackson accused of falling asleep in team meetings as NFL debate erupts

The verdict carries more than the one-place drop. According to PlanetF1, Verstappen also picks up his first penalty point in 12 months, while Lawson’s season tally moves to four.

‘Not very smart behaviour’

Verstappen told Sky Sports that Lawson should have driven more cautiously given his uncertain future at Racing Bulls.

“If I would be him, I would act a little bit smarter. Also, when you are fighting for your seat, it’s not very smart behaviour.”

Lawson’s view came in real time on team radio during the session, where he asked what he was supposed to do if he kept yielding and insisted Verstappen had cut back off the track and into his sidepod.

Read also: Zinedine Zidane’s France decision sparks unexpected Marcus Thuram response

Antonelli one result from the title

The timing is awkward for Red Bull more than for the title picture itself. Verstappen cannot win the 2026 drivers’ championship. His mathematical chance was extinguished a week earlier at Austin, where he was left 129 points down with 125 still available.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, on 365 points to Verstappen’s 236, needs only a ninth-place finish or better at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Sunday to be crowned world champion for the first time, regardless of what George Russell or Lewis Hamilton do behind him.

Qualifying is on Saturday afternoon, and the grid penalty for Verstappen and Lawson will be applied to whatever positions each driver sets.

Read also: Strasbourg captain makes candid admission about life under Chelsea’s owners