Formula One driver Liam Lawson mentioned that he narrowly averted a deadly collision with two marshals who ran throughout the racetrack at the Mexico Grand Prix.
The incident occurred on the third lap of Sunday’s race as Racing Bull’s Lawson returned to the circuit from an early pitstop.
The two marshals ran to the opposite aspect of the observe simply in entrance of Lawson’s automobile, with the New Zealander fast to specific his incredulity over the group radio.
“Oh my god, are you kidding me? Did you just see that?” Lawson mentioned, earlier than including: “I could have f**king killed them.”
NCS Sports has contacted motorsport governing physique, the FIA, for remark. According to Reuters, the FIA mentioned in an announcement that it’s investigating the scenario.
“Following a turn one incident, race control was informed that debris was present on the track at the apex of that corner,” the FIA assertion mentioned.
“On lap three, marshals have been alerted and positioned on standby to enter the observe and get well the particles as soon as all vehicles had handed.
“As soon as it became apparent that Lawson had pitted, the instructions to dispatch marshals were rescinded and a double yellow flag was shown in that area. We are still investigating what occurred after that point.”
A double yellow flag can imply that there’s a hazard blocking the observe or marshals working on or beside the observe. It requires the driver to cut back their pace considerably, whereas they can not overtake and should be ready to vary route or cease.
Lawson later advised reporters that he “couldn’t believe” what he was seeing when he emerged from the pitstop and the marshals ran in entrance of his automobile.
“I nearly hit one of them; honestly, it was so dangerous,” he mentioned, per Reuters.
“Obviously, there’s been a miscommunication someplace, however I’ve by no means skilled that earlier than and I haven’t actually seen that previously. It’s fairly unacceptable.
“We can’t understand how on a live track, marshals can be allowed to just run across the track like that. I have no idea why, I’m sure we’ll get some sort of explanation, but it really can’t happen again.”
Lawson was compelled to retire from the race after sustaining harm to his automobile early on.
McLaren’s Lando Norris held onto his place at the entrance of the grid to file his sixth win of the season and regain the championship lead forward of Oscar Piastri.
Norris finished greater than 30 seconds away from Charles Leclerc, who held off the problem of Max Verstappen to take second. Piastri was again in fifth and now trails his teammate by only one level within the championship standings.
The F1 season resumes in Brazil on November 9.