Red Bull F1 boss weighs in on 'unnecessary' Max Verstappen-Liam Lawson clash

Red Bull F1 boss Laurent Mekies has now had his say on the collision during Friday's practice session between Max Verstappen and Racing Bull’s Liam Lawson in Mexico.

The controversial incident caused damage to both cars, and saw the session stopped with bodywork strewn across the track.

Both were aggrieved and adamant the other was at the fault - and now the Red Bull principal has given his verdict.

Laurent Mekies gives strong opinion on crash between Max Verstappen-Liam Lawson Clash

With Liam Lawson and Max Verstappen searching for space to get a clean lap in Mexico’s Free Practice 1, the Dutchman tried to dive past his Red Bull junior colleague in a typically aggressive move.

However, Lawson - also known for a robust driving style - refused to yield and the pair ended up connecting.

Both criticised the other in the aftermath, with stewards summoning the drivers and giving them a one-place grid penalty each for “clumsy” driving.

Prior to qualifying, Red Bull principal Laurent Mekies was asked for his verdict on the situation.

“It's a bit unnecessary,” said Mekies. “You don't really want that to happen because in the end we all lost track time.

“We lost some parts on the car, and obviously now we have lost a grid position.

“But at some stage you have to put it behind, and we are a bit on the back foot this weekend, and I really don't want to use that as an excuse for it.

“We have a bit more work to do, but let's see now if we have recovered a bit of pace.”

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Verstappen had ominously alluded in his post-practice interview to Lawson’s place at his Racing Bulls team being in danger for next year, with Mekies also commenting on this.

“I think you have to separate both aspects,” he said. “You know you have something that was very unnecessary on the track, and therefore it's frustrating for the drivers involved, and it's frustrating for the teams involved.

“And this is probably what you hear with Max, and then there are driver decisions. The one that Racing Bulls is down to them and only down to them.”

What Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson said about Mexico GP clash

Following the incident on Friday, Verstappen was in no mood for diplomacy, refusing to concede off-track as well as on it.

"At the end of the day, it is not going to change my weekend," Verstappen said. "But if I were him I would act a little smarter, and when you're fighting for your seat it's not very smart behaviour.

"When he saw me coming, he suddenly started to accelerate. I don't know what went through his head, that he wanted to drive me off the track in the hairpin. That's not very smart behaviour from someone in his position, to pick a fight with me."

Lawson made his feelings know on the team radio.

“He literally drove into me,” said the Kiwi. "If I back out every single time, what the f--- do I do? He actually came off the track into the side of me.”