Verstappen and Lawson Get Grid Penalties After Mexico Crash
Listen to the story
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson have both received grid penalties after a collision during Friday practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The two Formula 1 drivers crashed into each other while practising ahead of the race. A grid penalty means a driver must start the race from a lower position on the starting grid than their actual qualifying result.
Verstappen, who drives for Red Bull, was clearly annoyed by the incident. He described Lawson's driving as 'not very smart behaviour'.
Liam Lawson is also a Formula 1 driver. The exact details of how the collision happened have not been fully explained, but it was serious enough for race officials to give both drivers a penalty.
Friday practice sessions are an important part of a Grand Prix weekend. Drivers use this time to test their cars and get used to the track before qualifying and the main race.
The Mexico City Grand Prix is one of many races on the Formula 1 calendar each season. Incidents like this one can affect a driver's final result, since starting further back makes it harder to win.
Verstappen has been one of the most successful drivers in recent Formula 1 history, so any penalty before a race attracts a lot of attention from fans and the media.
It is not yet clear exactly how many places each driver will lose on the grid, but the penalty will affect their starting position for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Vocabulary7 words
- grid penalty
- a punishment that gives a driver a worse starting spot
- collision
- when two vehicles hit each other
- starting grid
- the list of positions where cars begin a race
- qualifying
- a session that decides starting positions
- race officials
- people who control and judge a race
- Grand Prix
- a major car race event
- incident
- a small event, often a problem
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A collision during Friday practice 2. It moves them to a worse starting position 3. Not very smart behaviour
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson have both received _____ _____ after a _____ during Friday practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
A grid penalty means a driver must start the race from a lower position on the _____ _____ than their actual _____ result.
Verstappen, who drives for Red Bull, was clearly annoyed by the incident. He described Lawson's driving as 'not very smart behaviour'.
The exact details of how the collision happened have not been fully explained, but it was serious enough for _____ _____ to give both drivers a penalty.
Friday practice sessions are an important part of a _____ weekend.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think grid penalties exist in Formula 1?
- How might this collision affect Verstappen's and Lawson's race results?
- Do you think Verstappen's reaction was fair? Why or why not?
- Have you ever watched a Formula 1 race? What did you think of it?
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