![\"Nineteen-year-old](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/tsolov-2M63XNAGGRGIBOU7IICYZGS46Y.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLiam Lawson and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen have been each given a one-place grid penalty for Monday’s Grand Prix after clashing in the second practice session in Mexico.<\/p>\n
Lawson and Verstappen were called to the stewards following the session, where they underwent investigations.<\/p>\n
Verstappen tried to overtake Lawson during a flying lap, but the Racing Bull’s driver didn’t let him pass, leading to the four-time world champion veering off-track and bumping a curb.<\/p>\n
The red flag was brought out, and the session was halted as crews cleared debris from the track. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe just drove into me, man,\u201d Lawson said over the radio. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe literally just drove into me. Every weekend he plays this game. Check the side of my car.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know Liam,\u201d his engineer replied. \u201cLet\u2019s stop in front of the garage and we\u2019ll check the car.”<\/p>\n
Fight for the contract<\/p>\n
Lawson completed FP2 in ninth, extending his consistent run in the top 10 in Mexico City.<\/p>\n
The Kiwi finished less than 0.1 second behind British teammate Arvid Lindblad, who secured seventh after taking tenth place in the previous session.<\/p>\n
Lawson was hopeful his string of good results would carry through the weekend, saying he felt confident despite Mexico’s high altitude providing difficult conditions.<\/p>\n
“Personally, I feel very good in the car at the moment so, overall, in a good headspace,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s gonna feel tricky here with the high altitude \u2013 it\u2019s going to feel probably very strange for us driving it.”<\/p>\n
Despite his good result, an upset was the last thing Lawson needed, with his future in the sport under question.<\/p>\n
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Nineteen-year-old Nikola Tsolov replaced Lawson for the first practice session in Mexico. (Source: Getty)<\/p>\n
The New Zealander is yet to finalise a contract for 2027 with Racing Bulls, and is up against Red Bull development driver Nikola Tsolov, who is currently second in the F2 championship.<\/p>\n
Lawson said, unlike in the past, he wasn’t focused on uncertainties \u2013 instead working on remaining reliable throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n
“If I look back a year ago, I was probably thinking about it a lot and it was probably having an impact on how I was driving,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I actually don\u2019t really think about it much at all, it’s not really worth me thinking or worrying about, I\u2019m just trying to keep the consistency going.”<\/p>\n
![\"Ferrari](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/charles-leclerc-7BZSSY3HDZCF3N2ZT7OWKXB3TA.jpg\")
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