Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson hit with double penalties for 'unacceptable' Mexico clash

Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson have both been hit with a one-place grid penalty for the Mexico City Grand Prix, and handed a penalty point apiece, following their needless clash in second practice.

Just 13 minutes into FP2, and on approach to the stadium complex at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Verstappen opted to dive down the inside at Turn 12 on a driver who was his Red Bull team-mate for three races only recently, due to Isack Hadjar sustaining a wrist injury.

Lawson, though, held his ground in his Racing Bulls machinery and jostled with Verstappen through the slow Turn 13 before the Red Bull driver ran over the right edge of the Racing Bulls' front wing at Turn 14, depositing debris on the circuit which needed to be cleared by marshals.

Verstappen claimed that Lawson's move "wasn't smart" when addressing the media before heading to the stewards to account for his actions.

Ultimately, the stewards decided that the move was considered "unacceptable" following a warning given to the team managers earlier in the day - with both drivers being handed a one-place grid drop and one penalty point on their super licences.

"The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 3 (Max Verstappen), the driver of Car 30 (Liam Lawson), team representatives and reviewed video evidence," began the verdict.

"On the approach to turn 12 car 3 was on a preparation lap and car 30 was on a cool down lap preparing for another push lap. The drivers of both cars behaved in a manner that was considered unacceptable by the Stewards, particularly in view of the warning that had been given at the Team Managers meeting earlier this day.

"Both drivers admitted the moves were unnecessary and “clumsy”.

"Noting that there had been similar incidents this year of actions between drivers in Free Practice, the Stewards have decided to escalate the penalty from that of a formal warning to a grid position penalty, particularly in view of the warning that had been provided at the Team Managers meeting and consistent with other incidents involving contact between the cars in Free Practice in previous years.

"Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 5 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits."