Liam Lawson of New Zealand driving as marshals run on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico. Photo: Hector Vivas / Getty Images
Mexican motorsport officials have blamed New Zealand driver Liam Lawson for putting Formula 1 track marshals at risk in an alarming near-miss incident at this week's Mexico Grand Prix.
The drama unfolded when Lawson returned to the track in his Racing Bulls car following an early pit-stop, only to pass close by two track marshals who avoided being hit by sprinting off the track.
Lawson expressed his shock over team radio and later queried why the men were on the track, creating a highly-dangerous scenario.
RB's New Zealander driver Liam Lawson Photo: AFP / Lillian Suwanrumpha
However, Mexico's motorsport federation, OMDAI, responded to criticism with a detailed public statement that blames the second-year Kiwi driver for putting the marshals at risk.
It supplied onboard screenshots of the incident in a lengthy statement which claims Lawson had failed to slow sufficiently under yellow flags.
"When analysing the sequence from the camera onboard the car, it can be seen that driver Liam Lawson, as he approaches Turn 1, begins to turn to take the racing line, at which point the presence of the track marshals is clearly visible as they carry out their intervention procedures to collect the pieces that had been left behind as a result of the previous contact," the statement read.
"The proximity of the car to the work area shows that the track marshals were still active within the risky area, performing cleaning and safety tasks on the circuit.
"The images clearly show that driver Liam Lawson maintains the steering wheel angle of his car when taking Turn 1, without changing his trajectory, even though the track marshals were crossing the track to return to their post.
"This action occurs while personnel were still working in the area, which shows that the driver did not interrupt his line despite the obvious presence of marshals on the track."
Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson. Photo: Photosport
The OMDAI report has surprised some F1 observers, given the governing body FIA's official investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
The statement provides no explanation as to why the marshals were on a live section of track.
Lawson, who was forced out of the race early with mechanical problems, expressed his shock in a post-race interview with reporters.
"I honestly couldn't believe what I was seeing," Lawson said.
"I got to Turn 1 and there were two dudes just running across the track. And I nearly hit one of them. Honestly, it was so dangerous.
"Obviously, there's been a miscommunication somewhere, but I've never experienced that before, I've only seen that in the past. It's pretty unacceptable.
"We obviously can't understand how, on a live track, marshals can be allowed to just run across the track like that. I mean, I have no idea why, but I'm sure we'll get some explanation."
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