The FIA issued a direct warning to all Formula 1 Team Principals regarding driver conduct in Free Practice sessions ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix. This directive came on Friday morning, November 1, 2026, hours before a collision between Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson during FP2.
Both Verstappen and Lawson received a one-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix and one penalty point on their Super Licences following the incident. The stewards deemed their actions unacceptable for a practice session.
The clash occurred at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, specifically through Turns 12 to 14. Verstappen, on a preparation lap, attempted to overtake Lawson, who was on a cool-down lap.
Lawson resisted the move, leading to side-by-side running. Verstappen then went off track and made contact with Lawson’s front wing upon rejoining. This resulted in damage to both cars and a brief red flag.
Verstappen criticised Lawson’s actions, calling them ‘not very smart behaviour,’ particularly given Lawson’s ongoing efforts to secure his Formula 1 seat. Lawson later apologised to Verstappen after qualifying, stating he never intended to make contact.
Verstappen subsequently confirmed that the matter was resolved between them, stating, ‘It’s all fine between us.’ Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane described the incident as ‘unnecessary’ for both drivers.
The FIA’s warning to team principals was prompted by a pattern of similar incidents in Free Practice sessions throughout the 2026 season. Stewards decided to escalate penalties for contact in practice, moving beyond formal warnings.
This stricter approach aligns with precedents set in previous years for physical contact during practice. The FIA’s 2026 Penalty Guidelines allow for reprimands or 10-second penalties for causing a collision.
Penalty points are applied for dangerous, reckless, or deliberate actions leading to a collision or other unacceptable driving. An incident between Charles Leclerc and George Russell in FP2 at the 2026 United States Grand Prix was cited as a contributing factor to the FIA’s increased scrutiny.
In that Austin incident, Russell received a black-and-white flag for forcing Leclerc off track. However, stewards ultimately took no further action, noting it occurred in practice and was not deemed dangerous.
Adding to the weekend’s events, Liam Lawson was later disqualified from qualifying. His Racing Bulls car failed technical regulations (Articles C5.12.6 and C5.12.7).
The breach involved not immediately lifting off the power after his fastest Q2 lap, preventing the MGUK deployment rate from achieving the required ‘step down.’ This demoted him from his initial seventh place to the back of the grid.
Separately, Haas announced on Saturday, October 31, 2026, that Ryo Hirakawa would replace Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. The team stated the decision was not due to illness and offered no further explanation.
Ocon later issued a statement acknowledging ‘a difference in viewpoints’ after FP2 led to a discussion, but denied any physical altercation. He condemned violence and requested that speculation be avoided.
Hirakawa, a 32-year-old Japanese driver, is a Haas reserve driver since 2025. He is a two-time FIA World Endurance Champion and 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans winner. This marks his Formula 1 race debut.
Ocon’s contract with Haas was already set to conclude at the end of the 2026 season, with Rafael Camara confirmed for 2027. Ocon had reported power steering issues and discomfort with the VF-26 during FP2.
In qualifying, Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for Ferrari. George Russell qualified second for Mercedes, with Charles Leclerc third for Ferrari. Max Verstappen, initially fourth, will start fifth due to his grid penalty.
