Following two events where Formula 1’s officiating team faced scrutiny regarding a near-miss involving two track personnel and Liam Lawson at the Mexico Grand Prix, the timing of personnel involvement during a race once more became a disputed point in Las Vegas.
Following a multi-car incident at the commencement of the Vegas night race that resulted in scattered fragments in the Turn 1 escape road, track personnel were dispatched from their station situated on the outer edge of the track – on the drivers’ right – with the aim of gathering the fragments swiftly ahead of the approaching cars on the subsequent lap.
After removing the scattered fragments, track personnel were observed hurrying back toward the barrier as leader Max Verstappen was nearing the start-finish line, situated a few hundred meters ahead, with race officials electing to maintain a double yellow flag situation rather than activating a virtual safety car period.
This instance garnered criticism from analysts, notably from specialist Niels Wittich – Rui Marques’ predecessor as FIA race director prior to Marques’ appointment 12 months earlier.
“This cannot occur; it is an entirely unacceptable scenario,” Wittich stated to Sky Sports Germany. “Naturally, you consistently have the arrangement, notably at Turn 1 during each start, where you position track personnel to be actively involved or, at minimum, on standby. This is due to the greatest manageable interval present at the start once the final car has passed, in the event of any fragments or components necessitating removal.
“However, for the duration to extend to the point where the vehicles are essentially re-approaching on their flying lap – a double yellow flag proves insufficient at that juncture. It is fundamentally incorrect, and I struggle to comprehend how it has transpired for a second occasion this year.”
Marshals clean up debris on track
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Wittich alludes to the recent Mexico race, during which Racing Bulls driver Lawson encountered two track personnel in his trajectory as they concluded the debris removal. As of yet, a comprehensive clarification regarding this incident remains pending, with anticipation for its imminent release as Mexican federation representatives were present in Las Vegas to deliberate on the matter.
However, Autosport has learned that the FIA perceives a notable distinction between these incidents. In the situation at Turn 1 in Las Vegas, race officials felt assured in dispatching track personnel under double waved yellow flags due to the debris being situated entirely outside the racing line in the Turn 1 run-off area – on the same track side as the personnel station, removing the necessity for personnel to traverse a live track.
As the final corner presents a blind, full-throttle kink, the double waved yellow zone was prolonged up to the corner’s entry to ensure drivers initiated deceleration in a timely manner.
While track personnel were still returning to their posts as the procession of cars neared, the perspective provided by Verstappen’s onboard camera persuaded the FIA that, upon reviewing the incident, the appropriate determination was made in retrospect.
The virtual safety car was indeed deployed one lap later as a result of debris located on the outer section of Turn 2, stemming from the earlier collision at the start. In this instance, Autosport understands race officials deemed double waved yellow flags inadequate to address the situation due to the presence of a front wing fragment in proximity to the racing line, which necessitated track personnel crossing the track.
The FIA’s rationale does not completely address the prolonged duration required for track personnel to clear the debris at Turn 1, or address whether race officials should have exercised increased precaution by transitioning the double-waved yellow flag condition to a virtual safety car period upon realizing that track personnel were unable to return behind the barriers as quickly as initially expected.
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– The Autosport.com Team
