New video footage has surfaced, revealing the alarming proximity of Liam Lawson to two track marshals who dashed across the circuit during the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing driver was compelled to decelerate to avert a potential catastrophe on the third lap of the race weekend.
Officials stationed at turn one had been notified about debris on the track and had been instructed to wait until all cars had cleared the area before venturing onto the track to remove the obstructions. However, it seems they were unaware that Lawson had made a pit stop to replace his front wing following damage sustained in the initial lap.
Expressing shock over the radio, the 23-year-old exclaimed, “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.”
Sideline footage showcased the peril faced by the track marshals, highlighting the significance of Lawson’s quick reflexes. Even after the Grand Prix concluded, the driver remained incredulous.
Reflecting on the incident, Lawson commented, “I honestly couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I came out on a new set of hards, and then I got to Turn One and there were just two dudes running across the track. 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. 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 aiming to clarify the circumstances that led to such a hazardous situation. They indicated that an investigation is underway to comprehend the sequence of events that unfolded.
The FIA stated, “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 As soon as it became apparent that Lawson had pitted, the instructions to dispatch marshals were rescinded, and a double yellow flag was displayed in that area. We are still investigating what occurred after that point.”
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