During free practice two (FP2) at the Mexico City Grand Prix, a high-speed encounter between Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson ended with both cars briefly entangled. Verstappen, speaking to the media shortly after the session, labeled the incident unnecessary and suggested that Lawson’s actions reflected “not very smart behaviour”. The Dutch champion’s comments quickly spread across the paddock, reigniting a debate about on-track etiquette during practice runs.
Racing Bulls’ rebuttal to Verstappen’s statement
Alan Permane, the team principal of Racing Bulls, responded within hours, rejecting Verstappen’s assessment as unfounded. Permane emphasized that the collision was a typical by-product of close-quarter testing and that both drivers shared responsibility for avoiding contact. He stressed that the incident did not arise from any deliberate error on Lawson’s part and warned against using a single practice scuffle to draw broader conclusions about a driver’s competence.
Lawson’s performance this season
Beyond the clash, Lawson has emerged as the principal point-scorer for Racing Bulls in 2026. He has amassed 63 of the team’s 77 points, accounting for roughly 62% of the total, and has added two additional points during his three-race stint with the senior Red Bull squad. His consistency across eleven of the eighteen races so far has positioned him as a de facto team leader, a status rarely granted to a driver who split his time between two cars.
Future of the Racing Bulls line-up
With the 2027 season on the horizon, the team faces a pivotal decision. Red Bull’s junior programme continues to champion Nikola Tsolov, a rookie who fought for the Formula 2 title and is touted as a potential “next Max Verstappen”. Former W Series champion Jamie Chadwick publicly argued that if Red Bull genuinely believes Tsolov can replicate Verstappen’s trajectory, the youngster should replace Lawson at Racing Bulls. The speculation is intensified by the fact that Red Bull already controls two of the three remaining seats for the 2027 campaign, leaving the final spot to be contested among several emerging talents.
Contrasting expert opinions on Lawson’s fate
Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok pushed back against Chadwick’s suggestion, stating he sees no data indicating Tsolov outperforms Lawson. Chandhok described a potential dismissal of Lawson as “one of the most unjust sackings in F1 history”, pointing to Lawson’s solid point haul and his seamless return to the Red Bull car after a brief dismissal. He argued that Racing Bulls, now a competitive midfield outfit with its own sponsors and identity, should not function merely as a feeder squad, but rather retain drivers who have already proven their value.
Broader driver-market context
The uncertainty surrounding Lawson’s seat coincides with other shake-ups on the grid. Mercedes-linked rookie Arvid Lindblad appears likely to stay with Racing Bulls, while Haas has signalled intent to retain Oliver Bearman. Cadillac’s final seat may be decided between veteran Valtteri Bottas and rising American star Colton Herta, leaving the team’s 2027 roster still fluid. All these moves demonstrate how closely linked the junior programmes are to the senior teams, and how a single practice incident can become a flashpoint in larger strategic discussions.
