Martin Brundle has branded Red Bull "pathetic" if the Mexico City Grand Prix practice clash between Liam Lawson and Max Verstappen plays any part in the New Zealander losing his Racing Bulls seat for 2027.
Lawson and Verstappen collided during FP2 in Mexico, with both drivers compensating for lost track time after handing their cars to rookies Ayumu Iwasa and Nikola Tsolov in the opening session.
FIA stewards handed each driver a one-place grid penalty and a penalty point on their superlicence, judging the pair equally at fault.
Lawson's 2027 future remains unresolved, with Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane confirming the squad is weighing up Lawson against junior prospects Arvid Lindblad and Tsolov for its two race seats.
Tsolov, who deputised for Lawson in FP1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, is understood to be the frontrunner reported to replace him should the 24-year-old be dropped.
Speaking to Sky F1, Brundle said any link between the incident and Lawson's contract situation would reflect badly on Red Bull.
"If he dared be on the racetrack on a preparation lap like Max at the same moment, if that's a factor in him getting the heave-ho, that's pathetic," said Brundle.
"That's so childish. I can't believe it is. I think that's just an excuse if they are using that.
"So either he's got a brilliant poker face, or he knows he's out of there, which is quite something."
Martin Brundle personal experience shows strong results not always enough
Brundle knows from personal experience that such decisions are not always made purely on merit.
He was dropped by Benetton at the end of 1992 in favour of Riccardo Patrese despite having often matched Michael Schumacher's pace that season.
"I remember starting to beat Michael Schumacher in the Benetton team and I got biffed at the end of the year," added Brundle.
"It happens in this business for any number of reasons, sometimes commercial reasons, political, future, and the teams are thinking a long way ahead.
"All the pieces of the jigsaw fit together in a way that doesn't always look obvious to us standing here talking about it right now.
"But I think Liam's done a tremendous job for them."
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