Australian Grand Prix organizers have launched an investigation to find out how a bunch of followers managed to breach safety and get dangerously near Formula One automobiles earlier than the chaotic race ended with three crimson flags.
Australian Grand Prix Corp chief govt Andrew Westcott stated on Monday an incursion onto the Albert Park circuit earlier than the checkered flag might have resulted in severe damage.
“There is a controlled allowance of people coming onto the track after the race has finished and after the safety car has passed,” Westcott advised the Australian Broadcasting Corp. As but.
“Motorsport is dangerous … This could have been terrible.” Only 12 out of 20 completed the race, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen profitable his first Australian GP title after a late begin behind the security automotive.
Including 131,124 on Sunday, 444,631 spectators over the 4 days set a document attendance on the Australian GP. Sightings of followers climbing excessive over the safety fence and squeezing via a spot within the barricades to get onto the monitor emerged after the race.
The race promoters confronted stewards on Sunday night time and accepted the cost of failing to take satisfactory security and safety measures.
“All of this presents vital hazard to onlookers; Race officers and drivers,” the stewards stated in a press release.
Australian Grand Prix Corp pledged to conduct a complete assessment, together with the Victoria State Police, by 30 June and report again to the game’s world governing physique the FIA. The incident was additionally referred to the FIA ​​World Motor Sports Council for additional investigation. Determine whether or not penalties will apply.
“We’ve got a lot of CCTV and we’re going to be pouring in a huge amount of footage over the next few weeks,” Westacott stated. “Nobody in motorsport did anything malicious, it’s an incredibly well-behaved crowd, but I think there was a bit of confusion in them. We don’t know how they’re going to be in the field without the right level of authority.” Westcott described it as an “uncontrolled entry of people” and stated that they had violated “very strong protocol”. He stated he hoped that after future races had been accomplished, the monitor intrusion can be managed. method banned followers from being allowed on the monitor.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
