Did we just witness the closest call to a marshal’s death? The Mexican Grand Prix added another dramatic chapter to Formula 1 history, though this time it wasn’t due to overtaking manoeuvres or strategy. Red Bull Racing driver Liam Lawson narrowly avoided a potentially fatal accident when two track marshals suddenly ran across the circuit in front of him. The incident was captured on television and left both the driver and fans stunned, prompting an immediate response from the sport’s governing body, the FIA. Many felt that the incident narrowly avoided a safety marshal’s death, the first since the Canadian Grand Prix in 2013.
Just a few laps into the race, debris in the first corner needed to be cleared away. Approaching the scene under double yellow flags, Lawson was still travelling at high speed when two marshals unexpectedly sprinted across the track to the right. The footage showed how close the New Zealander came to tragedy. The marshals were just metres ahead of him as he passed, forcing him to react instantly.
Startled, Lawson immediately radioed his team, exclaiming, “Did you see that? I could have fucking killed her!”
His reaction reflected the seriousness of the situation, both for his own safety and for the marshals, who had risked their lives by entering the track at the wrong moment.
Lawson, who later retired from the race due to a mechanical issue, appeared visibly shaken when he recounted the incident afterwards.
“I honestly couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” he said. “As I came into the first corner, two people were running across the track and I almost hit one of them. That’s unacceptable. We need answers.”
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The FIA has begun an investigation
The FIA immediately opened an investigation into the near miss. A spokesperson confirmed that procedures had been in place, but that something had gone wrong in their execution. According to the initial statement, marshals had been instructed to clear debris from the first corner once all cars had safely passed.
“On lap three, the marshals were alerted and put on standby to enter the track and clear the debris once all the cars had passed Turn 1,” the spokesperson explained.
“As soon as it became clear that Lawson had pitted, the order to deploy marshals was rescinded and a double yellow flag was displayed in that area. We are still investigating what happened after that.”
This suggests a possible communication error between race control and the marshals on the ground. The double yellow flags should have ensured that no one entered the track while cars were still passing through the sector. However, the footage clearly showed that the marshals did not wait for full clearance before stepping out.
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Support for volunteer marshals
While the FIA acknowledged the gravity of the incident, it also expressed support for the thousands of volunteers who make motorsport possible worldwide.
“Our marshals work on a voluntary basis and play an essential role in ensuring the safe and successful running of our sport,” the spokesperson added.
“We are committed to reviewing what occurred and taking appropriate measures to prevent a recurrence.”
Marshals are trained to operate under strict safety protocols, and entering the circuit while cars are present is only permitted when directed by race control. Such incidents are rare, but they have happened before in motorsport history, with tragic consequences. The FIA’s safety systems, including track flags, radio communication and clear command chains, are designed to prevent precisely this type of scenario.
Safety remains a priority
Formula 1 prides itself on its continuous improvement in safety. Modern cars, circuits and race procedures have evolved dramatically over the decades to protect drivers, teams and track personnel. However, the near-miss in Mexico serves as a reminder that, despite advanced systems, human error can pose serious risks.
Lawson’s quick reaction and reduced speed under yellow flags likely prevented a catastrophe. His call for accountability highlights the need for constant vigilance, not just from drivers, but from all officials involved in running a Grand Prix.
As the FIA continues its investigation, both teams and marshals will be looking to ensure that lessons are learned from this alarming incident. The goal, as always, is to ensure that Formula 1 remains thrilling yet safe for everyone involved.
Reactions from fans on social media
As soon as the onboard footage of Liam Lawson’s near miss was posted on X (formerly Twitter), fans of Formula 1 began to react.
Posted by the account RBR Daily, the clip quickly went viral, amassing over 600,000 views and sparking widespread debate about safety standards in Formula 1.
Shock and disbelief
Many fans expressed shock at what they had seen, noting how close the incident came to disaster. User @munga__ wrote: ‘OMG, people could have actually died. It wasn’t mentioned in the commentary, but when Sainz parks in a safe place, they bring out the VSC at the most interesting part of the whole GP.’
Another fan, @MenInBlackNZ, called it ‘one of the most dangerous things seen on a racetrack’, while @Sarge summed up his frustration with ‘Idiots!’.
There was criticism of race control
Others directed their anger at race officials, questioning how such a lapse in safety could occur at the top level of motorsport.
‘Ugh! Whoever is in charge of track safety should be fired,’ said @BB_Bundy, echoing a sentiment shared by several others. Another fan, @RickerDaniel19, pointed out the inconsistency in applying race control measures: ‘So no double yellows or VSC when Liam nearly cleans out two marshals, but VSC when Carlos puts it in the car park? Great.’
References to F1 history
Some fans drew comparisons to tragic moments from the sport’s past. User @PerrieAlbumNow reminded others of the 1977 South African Grand Prix, in which both a marshal and a driver lost their lives in similar circumstances.
‘They were lucky it wasn’t a repeat of 1977 South Africa,’ wrote the user, recounting how a 19-year-old marshal and driver, Tom Pryce, lost their lives in a horrifying accident.
Dark humour amid concern
A few users responded with dark humour, reflecting the absurdity and tension of the moment: @BigRyanPark quipped, ‘Does anybody else remember the game Frogger?’ before adding, ‘Liam Lawson is experiencing literally every driving experience I’ve ever had in Baja, Mexico.’
While the tone of the responses ranged from humour to outrage, the underlying concern was universal: a near-fatal accident had been narrowly avoided. Fans agreed that the FIA’s investigation must provide answers and prevent such errors from happening again.
As one commenter put it, ‘To be fair, there were double yellows there, weren’t there?’, a reminder that even if safety systems are in place, they must be properly coordinated.
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One race after the summer break, Oscar Piastri was on top of the Formula One world. He had broken the resistance of the current world champion and his team mate’s DNF in Zandvoort left him an almost unassailable 34 points clear of Lando Norris.
Given that McLaren had won twelve of the first fifteen Grand Prix, it was expected this form would continue with both drivers trading 1-2’s to the end of the season,. Meaning without a DNF for Piastri it would be the Australian who claimed his maiden F1 drivers’ championship.
Just four races later and the wheels have fallen from Oscar’s racing wagon. Crashes and false starts in Baku began his demise then in Singapore he was dominated by his team mate and failed to make the podium.
Piastri scrapes through to Q3
The US GP which is a low grip circuit proved tough for Piastri, again with him trailing Norris for most of there weekend finishing just fifth. Now in Mexica, where the grip is also low, the young McLaren driver has had a nightmare in qualifying and will start the race in seventh place, due to a one position promotion due to Carlos Sainz grid drop.
His only saving grace is Verstappen who looked the most dangerous in terms of the title challenge – and was the bookies favourite – is having a tough weekend of his own. He and the team failed to nail the ride height of his RB21 and he is set for a long and difficult afternoon trying to keep his tyres alive.
TJ13 predicted this would be a rough weekend for Oscar, although the gap to his team mate is remarkably large. Oscar had an extra practice session over Verstappen and Norris who gave their cars in FP1 to junior drivers. Yet despite the extra time to fine tune his setup, Piastri was 6/10ths behind his team mate in FP2 and roughly the same margin behind in FP3.
Come qualifying, Oscar almost missed out on Q3 such was his lack of performance, but he pipped Yuki Tsunoda by 0.079 seconds to survive although Q3 was to prove little better. His P8 classification (before grid drops) was again 0.6 seconds behind his pole…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
Thiago Treze is a Brazilian motorsport writer at TJ13 with a background in sports journalism and broadcast media, alongside an academic foundation in engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This combination of technical knowledge and editorial experience allows Thiago to approach Formula 1 from both a performance and narrative perspective.
At TJ13, Treze covers driver performance, career developments, and key storylines across the Formula 1 grid, while also analysing the technical factors that influence competitiveness. This includes aerodynamic development trends, simulation-driven design approaches, and the engineering decisions that shape race weekend outcomes.
His reporting bridges the gap between human performance and machine development, helping readers understand how driver execution and technical innovation interact in modern Formula 1. Coverage often connects on-track events with the underlying engineering philosophies that define each team’s approach.
With a global perspective shaped by both journalism and technical study, Thiago also focuses on Formula 1’s international reach and the different ways the sport is experienced across regions.
Treze has a particular interest in how Computational Fluid Dynamics and aerodynamic modelling contribute to car performance, offering accessible explanations of complex technical concepts within Formula 1.
Haven’t seen the incident with the Marshall/s … but I did have to witness the VSC when it was NOT necessary AT ALL, and cost MV second place and a crucial three points … what WAS going on there, and whoever made that decision should be removed from race control immediately!