They are the silent forces in orange overalls, ensuring safety and order along the racetrack. I spent a day following the training program for marshals at Zandvoort and discovered how serious, dangerous, and addictive this work can be.
The day begins with theory lessons, where safety is the common thread. They discuss the biggest dangers on and around the track, how to collaborate with medical personnel, and how to extinguish a burning car, for instance. This is followed by the highly exciting practical part at the Zandvoort circuit. From waving flags to pushing cars out of the gravel trap, from removing oil traces from the track to calming down hot-headed drivers, you learn primarily how to do this in a safe and responsible manner.
What makes this day extra special is the atmosphere. You can feel that this is a tight-knit group, with most members having been active for years. They proudly talk about their work at the Dutch GP, but they also love to flag at a seemingly insignificant race class in the rain. Yet, it remains remarkable that even in Formula 1, where money is abundant, the marshals are not paid. In exchange for a lunch package, they stand there in all kinds of weather along the track. “But what does that matter,” says a marshal who hands me a beer in the cozy clubhouse afterwards. “You can’t get closer to F1 than this.”
