From the Verstappen–Lawson clash to Ocon’s replacement: the drama before the Mexico City Grand Prix

Liam Lawson went to see Max Verstappen on Saturday morning to apologise for their collision in Friday practice. By Saturday night, he had another problem. Eighth fastest in qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix, the Racing Bulls driver ended up last on the grid. Elsewhere, Haas handed its reserve driver an unexpected race debut, and the stewards had to decide how far a driver could go when a guest invaded his space in the paddock.

Verstappen and Lawson race each other with neither on a flying lap

Verstappen was preparing for a fast lap in FP2. Lawson was cooling his tyres. The Red Bull passed the Racing Bulls on the way into Turn 12, Lawson tried to take the place back in the stadium section and the pair made contact at Turn 14. The impact damaged Verstappen’s floor and Lawson’s front wing. The session was red-flagged while marshals cleared the debris. The stewards gave each driver a one-place grid drop and a penalty point.

“When you’re fighting for your seat, it’s not very smart behaviour,” Verstappen said. Even after Lawson apologised, the question of the 2027 Racing Bulls line-up followed them. Asked to choose between Lawson and Nikola Tsolov, Verstappen kept his preference to himself and left the decision to the team. The Bulgarian had finished 12th in Lawson’s car in first practice.

Lawson’s qualifying disqualification was a separate matter. After crossing the line at the end of his fastest lap in Q2, he stayed on the throttle. As a result, the power delivered by the MGU-K did not drop at the prescribed rate. Racing Bulls reported the breach itself. Friday’s collision moved Verstappen from fourth to fifth, while the disqualification left Lawson 22nd on the provisional grid, even behind Valtteri Bottas, who had a 50-place penalty for taking new power unit components.

Why Hadjar received a warning for pushing a paddock guest

On his way to the garage for first practice, Isack Hadjar stopped for a photograph with a young fan. A second paddock guest then approached him. After reviewing footage and hearing from the driver, the stewards described the guest’s approach as aggressive. The one security guard accompanying Hadjar was walking behind him and could not intervene. Hadjar initially held the man at arm’s length, then pushed him aside with an open hand.

The stewards issued a formal warning for the push. In deciding the penalty, they took account of the crowded paddock, the lack of adequate security and the intrusion into the driver’s personal space. As Hadjar put it after qualifying, “I’m going to work; it’s not a reality show.”

Haas replaces Ocon before final practice as he denies reports of violence

Ryo Hirakawa drove the Haas in FP1 before handing it back to Esteban Ocon for FP2. During that session, Ocon could be heard objecting to the tyre choice and telling race engineer Laura Müller he had wanted the softs. On Saturday morning, Haas announced that Hirakawa would drive for the rest of the weekend. The team gave no reason for the change.

Ocon acknowledged that a difference of opinion had led to a discussion on Friday evening and categorically denied reports of physical violence. For Hirakawa, a 32-year-old Le Mans 24 Hours winner, the call-up means a first Formula 1 race start. He is 18th on the provisional grid.

Alonso defends his criticism of Albon, then sums up qualifying in one word

On Thursday, Fernando Alonso stood by his comments about driving standards at the back of the field after his clash with Alex Albon in Austin. He pointed to how often front wings go flying on the opening lap in fights well outside the points. Albon said he had looked up to Alonso growing up, but argued that the current grid was among the strongest in years.

On Saturday, Aston Martin told Alonso to stop in the stadium section in Q1 because of an energy recovery system problem. Out came the red flag. Alonso also received a reprimand for getting out without refitting the steering wheel, which marshals need to guide the car as they move it. Asked by F1 TV what had happened, he had a one-word answer: “Engine.” He later joked to ESPN that he was heading straight to Brazil.

A cooling fan and two sheets cost Audi €12,500

Audi sent rookie Freddie Slater out in first practice with a cooling fan still attached to the right-hand radiator inlet. That cost the team €7,500. A few hours later, mechanics carried Gabriel Bortoleto’s floor across the garage under a sheet and used another to shield the car from view while they worked underneath it. The second fine was €5,000.

When the lights go out at 2pm local time (8pm GMT) on Sunday, 1 November, Lewis Hamilton will lead the field away. He beat George Russell by nine thousandths of a second for his first Grand Prix pole with Ferrari. Charles Leclerc starts third, alongside Kimi Antonelli. Ninth place or better would secure the Mercedes driver’s first world title in Mexico.

Lead photo: Liam Lawson in Austin on 23 October 2026. © Lubomir Asenov / LAP.bg.