Ex-Race Director Slams FIA After Dangerous Marshal Incident in Las Vegas

A highly dangerous situation unfolded during the Las Vegas Grand Prix when marshals were seen unprotected on track during live racing, drawing strong condemnation from former F1 Race Director Niels Wittich, who called the incident "absolutely unacceptable."

Why it matters:

This incident in Las Vegas marks the second time this season that marshals have been dangerously exposed on track, raising serious safety concerns and questions about the FIA's race management protocols. Such lapses not only jeopardize the lives of marshals but also highlight potential systemic issues in how race control handles on-track incidents, undermining the sport's commitment to safety.

The details:

• Dangerous Scene Unfolds: On just the second lap of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, several marshals were seen walking unprotected through the run-off area of Turn 1, mere meters from approaching F1 cars on the main straight.
• Lack of Safety Car Deployment: Despite double yellow flags being shown just before the corner, race control opted not to deploy a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) or a full Safety Car. This decision deviates from common practice in similar situations, where race intervention is standard to protect personnel, especially given the risk of a car entering the run-off due to a technical failure or driver error.
• Wittich's Strong Criticism: Former F1 Race Director Niels Wittich vehemently criticized the handling of the situation on Sky, stating, "Something like that cannot happen. This is a situation that is absolutely unacceptable."
• Flag Confusion: Analysis showed that from Max Verstappen's perspective at the start/finish line, the yellow flag on the trackside monitor was initially withdrawn. Double yellow flags were only waved after the braking point for Turn 1.
• Delayed Debris Clearanc: Marshals had been deployed to clear debris from Turn 1 following multiple start collisions, a routine procedure. However, their deployment in Las Vegas reportedly took too long. Wittich emphasized, "If it takes so long that the cars are practically returning from the lead lap, then even a double yellow flag is no longer enough. That's just wrong."
• Previous Incident: This isn't an isolated event. During the Mexican Grand Prix earlier in the season, two marshals crossed the track just meters in front of Liam Lawson's car, prompting Lawson to comment at the time, "I could have killed them."
• Call for Immediate Action: Wittich expressed disbelief that such an incident could reoccur, highlighting that a Full-Course Yellow can be activated "within a second." In Mexico, a miscommunication between race control and the marshal post was cited as the cause, but the reason for the Las Vegas incident remains unclear.
• Warning Against Downplaying: Wittich warned against underestimating the severity of such situations: "Something just has to happen. An accident or brake failure. I don't want to imagine what could happen."

The big picture:

Niels Wittich served as F1 Race Director from 2022 to 2024 before being replaced without stated reasons. His successor, Rui Marques, was in charge during the Las Vegas event. These repeated safety breaches underscore a troubling pattern that the FIA must address decisively. The consistent failure to implement standard safety protocols when personnel are on track poses an unacceptable risk and demands a thorough review of current procedures and accountability within race control.

What's next:

The FIA is expected to launch an investigation into the Las Vegas incident, similar to the one that followed the Mexican Grand Prix. The outcome of this investigation will be crucial in determining what measures will be taken to prevent future occurrences and restore confidence in the safety management of Formula 1 races. Pressure will be on the current race director and the FIA to demonstrate a clear commitment to marshal safety.