19/09/2016
NEWS STORY
The FIA is investigate the incident in which a race marshal was still on track as the Singapore GP was re-started.
In the wake of Nico Hulkenberg's startline accident which eliminated the German on the spot but also saw a number of other drivers incur damage to their cars, officials deployed the safety car.
Though only on track for a couple of lap as the debris was cleared, when withdrawn TV viewers around the world were horrified to see Nico Rosberg leading the field around a corner on to a short straight where a marshal was running to safety.
While the marshal, thankfully, found a gap in the wall this incident follows an episode during last year's race when a fan was seen casually walking by the side of the track during the race.
"We want to clarify the situation to avoid it happening again," said a spokesperson for the FIA, who insisted that all protocols had been followed and that three times race control had confirmed that the track was clear.
"Last year's guy was drunk at least!" said Toto Wolff on hearing the FIA to is investigate the incident. "I don't think this guy had such a good time out there.
"It was very dangerous," he continued, "but I think we must give credit to race control, because they restarted the race pretty quickly. This is what we have asked them, not to spend endless time behind the safety car. That probably triggered one of the marshals being out there, cleaning up the mess. These things happen and I am really happy that it ended up with no one being hurt."
"That was pretty hairy, for sure," admitted Nico Rosberg, who was the first driver to spot the marshal. "I think just as we didn't expect the restart, he didn't either, I think, because the restart was somehow pretty abrupt. But he got out of the way just about in time so it was OK. Of course we all had to drive a bit carefully through there."
Check out our Sunday gallery from Singapore, here.