Portugal Colonial - 'Not very smart' - Verstappen slams Red Bull stable-mate after clash

As Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the times ahead of world champion Lando Norris of McLaren in an eventful session that saw Kimi Antonelli wind up fourth as he closes in on the title, Red Bull’s four-time champion became embroiled in an incident that left him with damaged bodywork.

He tangled with Racing Bulls' Lawson as they fought for track position going into the Foro Sol section and afterwards said the New Zealander caused the trouble.

Debris from their minor collision caused the session to be red-flagged for the track to be cleared.

"It was not unlucky," said the Dutchman. "It was not very smart behaviour by him in what he was trying to do there. But it is not going to change my weekend.

"I think it is just not very smart behaviour when you are fighting for your seat…"

Lawson has admitted this week that he does not know if he will retain his place next season with Racing Bulls, a sister team to Red Bull and regarded as a "feeder" outfit, despite an impressive season including three races for Red Bull when Isack Hadjar was out injured.

Racing Bulls may move to promote Red Bull junior driver Nikola Tsolov, who on Friday became the first Bulgarian driver to take part in an official practice session at a Grand Prix when he drove in FP1.

Lawson has impressed throughout the year and out-performed team-mate rookie Arvid Lindblad comprehensively.

On Thursday, he told reporters that finding consistency in formula one is hard, but he believed he has "maximised a lot this year.

"I’m not really sure what more is expected, but I’m not really sitting here thinking too much about the whole seat selection thing.

"I overthought things last year so I’m trying a different mindset this year to score as many points as I can."

Lawson is ninth in the drivers' championship with 77 points while teammate Lindblad is 11th on 38. His performances have helped lift Racing Bulls to fifth in the constructors' title race behind the big four of Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren.

He ended up ninth in Friday FP2 while Verstappen was fifth behind the Mercedes of George Russell and 20-year-old Italian Antonelli -- who is poised to become the sport’s youngest champion on Sunday if he finishes in the top nine.

Verstappen, a five-time winner in Mexico, admitted: "It could have gone better, but we're not too far off and just have some fine tuning to do. No one has much grip here but it is the same for us all and nothing new."

J.Pereira--PC