New video footage has surfaced, revealing the alarming proximity of Liam Lawson to two track marshals who unexpectedly dashed across the track at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Racing Bulls driver had to swiftly decelerate to avert a potential disaster during the third lap of the race weekend.
Initial reports indicate that marshals stationed at turn one had been notified of debris on the track and were instructed to wait until all cars had passed before entering the circuit for cleanup. However, it seems they were unaware that Lawson had made a pit stop to replace his front wing following damage on the opening lap.
Expressing shock over the radio, the 23-year-old voiced his astonishment, stating, “The f***? Oh my god are you kidding me? Did you just see that? Oh my god dude. I could have f***ing killed them mate.”
Subsequent footage from the sidelines underscored the peril faced by the track marshals, highlighting Lawson’s quick reflexes as crucial in avoiding a potential catastrophe. Even after the conclusion of the Grand Prix, the racer remained in disbelief.
Reflecting on the incident, Lawson remarked, “I nearly hit one of them, honestly, it was so dangerous. Obviously there’s been a miscommunication somewhere but I’ve never experienced that before, and I haven’t really seen that in the past. It’s pretty unacceptable.”
Expressing concern over the safety protocols in place, he added, “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.”
In response to the incident, the FIA issued a statement acknowledging the dangerous situation and initiated an investigation to determine the sequence of events leading to the near-miss.
The statement read, “Following a turn one incident, race control was informed that debris was present on the track at the apex of that corner. On lap three, marshals were alerted and placed on standby to enter the track and recover the debris once all cars had passed. As soon as it became apparent that Lawson had pitted, the instructions to dispatch marshals were rescinded and a double yellow flag was shown in that area.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.”
Formula 1 enthusiasts can catch all the live action, including practice, qualifying, and races, with Sky’s new Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering substantial savings and access to over 100 TV channels, along with complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
