Australian F1’s head promises an inquiry after track invasion by fans
After spectators surrounded the course before the race had officially ended, the director of the Australian Grand Prix promised a thorough inquiry on Monday, saying the outcome “could have been horrific.”
Late Sunday night following the race, the sport’s governing body, the FIA, called the organizers for an explanation, declaring the invasion a major violation of the sports code and requesting they “urgently produce a formal rectification plan.”
Near the end of a dramatic race won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, footage showed a “large section” of the 131,000-person crowd squeezing under barricades and scaling fences only meters from speeding vehicles.
Several were able to get to Nico Hulkenberg’s stranded Haas, which was stalled on the exit of Turn 2 after coming in eighth.
According to the FIA, “security regulations and safeguards that were expected to be in place for the event were not enforced, resulting in a risky situation for spectators, drivers, and race officials.”
The head of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Andrew Westacott, acknowledged that it was inappropriate even though the organizers were still unsure of what had happened.
He told national network ABC that after the race and when the safety car passes, “there is a controlled allowance of people to get onto the circuit.”
One of the lines had been damaged by spectators; we’re not sure how yet.
Officials will search security cameras, according to Westacott, in an effort to determine how the incident happened.
According to the FIA, “security regulations and safeguards that were expected to be in place for the event were not enforced, resulting in a risky situation for spectators, drivers, and race officials.”
The head of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Andrew Westacott, acknowledged that it was inappropriate even though the organizers were still unsure of what had happened.
He told national network ABC that after the race and when the safety car passes, “there is a controlled allowance of people to get onto the circuit.”
“Spectators had crossed one of the lines; we are not yet sure how it happened.”
Officials will search security cameras, according to Westacott, in an effort to determine how the incident happened.
We’ve got a lot of CCTV and we’ve got a huge amount of footage we’re going to have to pore through over the next couple of weeks,” he said. “Motorsport is dangerous… it could have been horrific.
The crowd at motorsports is incredibly well-behaved and nobody ever does anything unpleasant, although I believe there was some uncertainty among them. Without the proper level of authority, we don’t know how they managed to enter the area.
After three red flags were displayed throughout the race, Verstappen’s victory increased his advantage over teammate Sergio Perez in the world championship to 15 points.
Aston Martin is in second place, 58 points behind Red Bull, with Mercedes in third.
© 2023 AFP
