Former FIA Race Director Niels Wittich has harshly criticized the marshals who ran onto the track to clear debris during the opening round of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. After the chaos at the start, it took an unusually long time for the track officials to take action. Footage showed them quickly darting across the runoff area, while the first cars were already approaching in the distance. According to Wittich, what happened was ‘absolutely unacceptable’.
After the hectic start, a group of marshals was seen crossing the track to pick up debris from the collisions in the first turn. However, as they were on the track, the first cars were already approaching. Niels Wittich reacted furiously. “This should not happen,” he told the German branch of Sky Sports. “This is absolutely an unacceptable situation.”
Second Incident
According to Wittich, it took so long for intervention to occur that a double yellow flag was no longer sufficient. “Of course, you always make sure you’re ready in the first turn,” he explained. “At every start, you get the marshals moving, or at least on standby. After the last car has passed, you have the greatest controlled distance at the start, in case debris or parts need to be cleared.” However, in Las Vegas, he believes too much time was lost, which should have led to further neutralization of the race.”But if it takes so long that the cars are already making their next flying lap, then a double yellow flag is no longer sufficient,” Wittich judged. “That is simply wrong, and I don’t understand how this can happen for the second time this year.” During the GP in Mexico City, Liam Lawson nearly collided with two marshals, who crossed the track just in front of his front wing. “I could have killed them,” he reacted bewildered at the time. The FIA would investigate the incident – which was presumably the result of miscommunication – further.
“The simplest way to respond to something like this, if you see that there is a delay or that a situation requires a new action, is to wave a full yellow flag,” Wittich emphasized. “That can be done within a few seconds, after which everyone has to brake. That would have been the quickest and safest solution to neutralize and secure such a situation.” Wittich himself took on the role of race director in Formula 1 from 2022. However, in 2024 he was replaced by Rui Marques, officially because he ‘resigned his position’, according to the FIA. Wittich later said he was surprised by the decision and that no one had been able to give him a reason for his sudden dismissal.
