Mexico’s motorsport federation has accused Liam Lawson of failing to decelerate sufficiently below double yellow flags following a close to miss with a marshal on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
Lawson was in final place after pitting to restore injury to his Racing Bulls automotive on the finish of his second lap when the horrific incident occurred.
The Kiwi narrowly averted a collision with two marshals operating throughout the monitor as he returned from the pits and entered the primary mixed nook. Marshals had been despatched to take away particles within the first sector, and double yellow flags have been flying in that a part of the circuit.
On Tuesday, OMDAI Sport Mexico issued a launch analyzing the incident, accusing Lawson of not slowing down sufficient below the circumstances.
“Evaluation of the sequence from the automotive’s cameras exhibits that driver Liam Lawson started to swerve to take the racing line as he approached Flip 1. At that time, the presence of monitor marshals finishing up intervention procedures to retrieve particles left because of a earlier contact was clearly seen,” the assertion reads.
“The proximity of the autos to the work space signifies that monitor marshals have been nonetheless working throughout the hazardous space, conducting circuit cleansing and security operations.”
“The pictures clearly present that driver Liam Lawson maintained the angle of the automotive’s steering wheel with out altering trajectory because it handed via Flip 1, regardless that the monitor marshals have been crossing the monitor to return to their posts.
“This motion occurred whereas officers have been nonetheless working within the space. This exhibits that the motive force didn’t interrupt the road regardless of the plain presence of marshals on the monitor.”
Lawson nearly hit two marshals.
F1’s governing physique, the FIA, is investigating the circumstances of the incident.
“Following the incident at Flip 1, race management acquired a report of the presence of particles on the monitor on the apex of the nook,” the FIA stated in an announcement.
“On the third lap, the marshals have been alerted and stood by, and after all of the vehicles had handed, they entered the monitor and retrieved the particles.
“As quickly because it grew to become clear that Lawson had pitted, the marshal order was rescinded and double yellow flags have been displayed within the space.
“What occurred subsequent remains to be below investigation.”
Lawson was shocked and livid.
Lawson was understandably shocked by the incident and advised the race engineer over the workforce radio: “Are you kidding me? Did you simply see that? I may have… killed them.”
“Truthfully, I could not consider what I used to be seeing,” Lawson stated after the race.
“(I) got here out with a brand new set of laborious (tyres) and after I obtained to Flip 1 there have been solely two folks operating throughout the monitor. I nearly hit one among them. It was very harmful, to be trustworthy.
“Clearly there was a miscommunication someplace, however I’ve by no means skilled something like that earlier than, and I’ve by no means actually seen something like that previously. That is fully unacceptable.
“We do not perceive how a marshal can be allowed to cross the monitor like that on a reside monitor. We do not know why, however I feel we’ll get some type of clarification, however one thing like this actually should not occur once more.”
