Liam Lawson “Extremely Surprised” by Accusation in Mexico Commissioners Incident
1. The Heart-Stopping Moment
On lap 2 of the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, Liam Lawson exited the pits on fresh hard tyres when he suddenly encountered two marshals running across the racing line at Turn 1. Quick reflexes and heavy braking allowed the Racing Bulls driver to miss the officials by metres, but the near-miss was captured by trackside cameras and immediately sparked outrage on social media .
2. First Reactions: Shock on the Radio
Lawson’s disbelief was audible:
“Oh my god, are you kidding me? Did you see that? I could have killed them.”
The team relayed the message to race control, double-waved yellows were shown, and the marshals eventually cleared the debris they were trying to retrieve.
3. Post-Race Comments: “Unacceptable”
Speaking to reporters after retiring with damage from an earlier clash with Carlos Sainz, Lawson branded the situation “unacceptable” and revealed he had never seen marshals on a live racing surface in his career.
“There’s obviously been a miscommunication somewhere … it really can’t happen again,” he insisted.
4. The Blame Game: Criticism from Mexico’s OMDAI
The Mexican motorsport marshals’ association (OMDAI) issued a sharp statement implying Lawson was at fault for “not slowing enough” despite yellow flags. The accusation caught the 23-year-old off-guard.
“I was extremely surprised to be blamed,” Lawson told Times Sport. “I did everything by the book—lifted, down-shifted, was prepared to stop”.
5. FIA Investigation: “Driver Not at Fault”
After reviewing telemetry, onboard footage and team radio, motorsport’s governing body concluded:
“The driver reduced speed sufficiently and is not at fault for the incident.”
The FIA instead reprimanded the clerk of the course for “prematurely authorising marshal access” and pledged to tighten safety procedures for future events.
6. Broader Implications for F1 Safety
- Protocol Review: Expect revised FIA guidelines on when marshals may enter the circuit.
- Technology Aid: GPS-triggered cockpit alerts and stricter Virtual Safety Car deployment are under discussion.
- Driver Support: Grand Prix Drivers’ Association backed Lawson, stressing that “human error must not endanger lives”.
7. What’s Next for Lawson?
With the investigation closed and no penalty applied, Lawson heads to the São Paulo GP free of sanction but determined to turn attention back to performance.
“The car has pace; we just need a clean weekend,” he said.
Conclusion
The Mexico marshal episode served as a frightening reminder that safety protocols can fail in seconds. While Liam Lawson was cleared of wrong-doing, the incident is likely to accelerate reforms aimed at keeping officials and drivers out of harm’s way for good.
Sources
- Times Sport on X, 27 Oct 2025
- DIVEBOMB Motorsport, 28 Oct 2025
- RaceFans on X, 1 Nov 2025