Max Verstappen dismisses Johnny Herbert criticism over Mexican GP collision
Max Verstappen rejected Johnny Herbert's claim that he threatened Liam Lawson's Red Bull seat after their Mexican GP collision. The Dutchman dismissed the former driver's comments as irrelevant, noting that he and Lawson have already resolved the incident.
Max Verstappen rejected Johnny Herbert’s assertion that he "threatened" Liam Lawson’s future with Red Bull following their collision during Friday’s second practice at the Mexican Grand Prix. The Dutchman stated plainly that he does not care what the former driver has to say about him, dismissing the criticism as irrelevant to his current focus on the championship. This exchange occurred after both drivers were involved in a contact incident where Verstappen attempted an inside pass into Turn 13 but was muscled off the track by the Racing Bulls driver. Each competitor received a one-place grid penalty and a penalty point on their licence for the maneuver, which Verstappen described as unwise given the precarious status of Lawson’s seat within the team hierarchy.
The collision and immediate reaction
Verstappen blamed Lawson entirely for the incident, arguing that holding ground while fighting for a secure position was poor judgment. He noted that if he were in Lawson’s situation, he would act smarter to avoid jeopardizing his standing. "Maybe not very smart behaviour, what he was trying to do there," Verstappen said, emphasizing that such tactics are ill-advised when one’s place in the car is uncertain. Herbert, who previously clashed with Verstappen as a race steward, labeled the four-time world champion’s comments as "totally out of order." The Briton described the behavior as the "Jekyll and Hyde" side of Max, criticizing the timing of the threats during free practice as ridiculous despite the subsequent race win.
Herbert told Vision4Sport that Verstappen was out of line, yet acknowledged this type of conduct is characteristic of the driver. "But should you be surprised? It’s the sort of thing that Max does," Herbert added, contrasting the aggressive practice behavior with the stunning drive to victory. Verstappen responded to these remarks during qualifying in Brazil, stating he had no idea why Herbert made such claims. "Honestly, I don’t care about it at all. Why should his opinion matter to me?" he asked, indicating that the former driver’s perspective holds no weight in his decision-making process. A week after the Mexico Grand Prix, Verstappen refused to discuss the incident at length, maintaining that the matter is settled between the two drivers.
Resolution and broader context
Lawson revealed that he spoke with Verstappen ahead of the Grand Prix and apologized for the collision. The Dutchman confirmed they cleared the air, saying, "We’ve already discussed everything properly, I won’t add anything more." He added that it is good for Lawson to understand the rules and agreements, noting that while the New Zealander wants to make a good impression, he should choose someone else to prove himself against. This stance aligns with Verstappen’s earlier comments during the Singapore weekend regarding former drivers voicing opinions without studying new regulations thoroughly. He criticized some ex-racers for lacking understanding of power unit dynamics, leading to remarkable answers on television.
Verstappen clarified that he was not trying to prove himself right in hindsight but wanted to point out areas where Formula 1 needed improvement. "I say what I think, where I believe things are going wrong and what should be done differently," he explained. In the current 2026 standings, Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship with 390 points, followed closely by Verstappen at 279 points. George Russell sits third with 262 points, while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc occupy fourth and fifth places with 261 and 251 points respectively. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri round out the top seven with 246 and 152 points. Isack Hadjar trails Verstappen at Red Bull with 122 points, while Liam Lawson has accumulated 87 points for Racing Bulls. Pierre Gasly leads Alpine with 42 points, and Arvid Lindblad has 38 points for Racing Bulls. Franco Colapinto follows with 27 points for Alpine. Oliver Bearman has 23 points for Haas, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg share 14 points for Audi. Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, and Carlos Sainz each have 7 points for Haas, Aston Martin, and Williams respectively. Alexander Albon has 5 points for Williams, and Yuki Tsunoda has 1 point for Racing Bulls. Ryo Hirakawa also has 1 point for Haas, while Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas, and Sergio Perez have zero points for Aston Martin, Cadillac, and Cadillac respectively.
