Max Verstappen will start the Mexico City Grand Prix from P5 after receiving a one-place grid penalty for an incident involving Liam Lawson.

Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson went wheel-to-wheel and collided in FP2 in Mexico, with Red Bull chiefs ruling the incident “unacceptable”.

After the session, Verstappen lashed out at Lawson, suggesting the New Zealander should be “smarter” while fighting for his F1 seat. The stewards took action and gave both drivers a one-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen feels stewards are making an example of him

A one-place grid penalty for both drivers involved in the incident is an unprecedented punishment from the FIA, and Verstappen was quick to point that out.

The FIA ​​stewards’ document notes that such an incident would normally be dealt with by a warning, but stewards wanted to set an example because the subject was previously spoken about with team managers.

Verstappen was quick enough to start Sunday’s race in fourth, but his penalty has now pushed him back to the third row in P5. After qualifying, he made it clear he feels unfairly treated.

When asked by Motorsport if he felt surprised at being made an example of, Verstappen said: “No, that doesn’t strike me as strange, because that has happened before – with other things as well.

“That’s just the way it is. You can’t do anything about it. Look, if they think this warrants a penalty, then it warrants a penalty.”

When asked if he felt singled out by stewards, Verstappen added: “Yes, I don’t want to say too much about that. It is what it is.”

Max Verstappen accuses FIA of ‘inventing’ new penalties

When the FIA handed out a one-place grid penalty for both drivers, it did raise eyebrows across the F1 paddock.

Verstappen suggested that the FIA are just “inventing” new penalties for incidents now.

“It’s a new one that penalty! We will keep inventing new ones I guess,” Verstappen told Sky Sports.

“At the same time, everything I’ve said I said already and also internally everything has been said.

“That’s for us and I think we’re all done.”

Lawson’s grid penalty initially pushed him from P8 down to P9, although the Racing Bulls driver was later disqualified from the qualifying session entirely, meaning he will start from the back of the grid.