FIA responds to criticism after dangerous situation
The FIA has stated that Liam Lawson is not at fault after a near-miss with marshals during the Mexican Grand Prix. An internal investigation is still ongoing, but initial analysis does not point to faulty driving by Lawson.
What happened
Lawson had made a pit stop early in the race and was therefore loose from the pack. While recovering debris on the track, he had to dodge two marshals at Turn 1. In the car, he said he could have almost killed them. After the race, he called the situation unacceptable and asked for measures to be taken so that this does not happen again.
Criticism from Mexican motorsport federation
Mexican motorsport federation OMDAI later released a statement criticising Lawson. They argued that the marshals should have been clearly visible and that Lawson would not have adjusted his line. That statement consisted of 10 points and only received attention later. The FIA has not officially confirmed this statement.
FIA's own reaction and investigation
The FIA apologises to Lawson for the incident and says it is conducting a thorough internal investigation. In doing so, it is working with OMDAI and Lawson's team. The aim is clear: to improve the safety of the sport.
- What the FIA is collecting and investigating: telemetry, radio traffic in multiple languages, footage and on-site procedures.
What the telemetry shows
Initial telemetry analysis shows that Lawson slowed properly. He reacted to double yellow flags, braked earlier than in other laps and entered the corner much slower than at race pace. The FIA therefore concluded that he was not guilty of the incident.
Finally, the FIA expressed its appreciation to the marshals and volunteers. Without them, the sport cannot function safely. Full findings will follow when the investigation is complete.
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