During the Mexican Grand Prix, Liam Lawson and the home hero Sergio Perez clashed on lap 18 while battling for the final points position. 

Lawson, who was in 10th place, recognized that Perez was set to make a bold move at Turn 4. As they raced side by side through Turns 4 and 5, heavy contact was made, resulting in significant damage to Perez's car, particularly to the floor and sidepod.

Despite the damage, Perez managed to stay ahead for the remainder of the lap but eventually lost position to Lawson on the main straight.

Although neither of them retired from the race due to the collision, it basically ruined both of their races. Lawson crossed the finish line in sixteenth place, while Perez finished in seventeenth and practically last, as three drivers failed to complete the race.

Short after the clash, the Mexican referred to Lawson as an ‘idiot’ over the radio and stated that he doesn't have the right attitude for F1 after the race. The New Zealander, in the heat of the moment, showed Perez the middle finger as he passed him, a gesture that was captured on television.

Reflecting on the incident, Lawson criticized Perez for not leaving him enough space but later acknowledged his inappropriate reaction and apologised for his behavior.

“It's obviously one of those in the moment things,” Lawson explained.

“He spent half the lap blocking me, trying to ruin my race, so I was upset.

“But it's not an excuse. I shouldn't have done it, and I apologise for that.” 

Lawson's aggressive driving towards Perez and his gesture afterwards did not earn him any praise from Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.

“[It was] an unnecessary collision, where I see Lawson as being more to blame,” he told ORF.

“If it had been someone else, yes. But not the sister team.”