NewsOnF1 - Man on track

Main Page

Dear Heretic

I can't help but comment on the French walker incident at Germany. What a mess. This situation obviously altered the outcome of the race - even Ron Dennis blames the incident for destroying the team's lead.

This may well be a controversial comment, but I really think the safety
car was brought out prematurely when the walker appeared. I believe this to be a flawed decision.

Sure, the guy actually crossed the track, risking his own life as well as the lives of the drivers. Whilst this is unacceptable, I don't see how sending out the safety car was any help. Okay, so it slowed down the
cars, but if the walker had wanted to 'end it all' by standing on the track,even the safety car wouldn't have stopped him. As it was, after he crossed the track, he walked calmly up the grass - and the marshals were already running to apprehend him.

The situation should have been dealt with by waved yellows until it was proved that he had malicious intent - that way the outcome of the race wouldn't have been so dramatically affected. In fact, following the incident, when the cars were racing line astern for quite a few laps, there were two or three incidents; it could be said these were indirectly caused by having had the safety car out bunching them all up. This was definitely a decision made too quickly, one that has potentially lost McLaren the possibility of beating Ferrari again in the driver championship.

Kevin B.

The Heretic replies:

Dear Kevin,

You are certainly right. The wandering Frenchman and the subsequent fiasco with the pace car had a profound impact on the outcome of the race. He certainly eliminated McLaren's lead and I have even heard theories (absurd as they are) that he was on Ferrari's payroll.

With 20-20 hindsight there was no reason to bring the pace car out. The Frenchman was easily apprehended and seemed to leave peacefully.

I suspect that the reason for getting the pace car out as soon as possible had little to do with the marshal's assessment of the risk but all to do with their public liability policy. It probably has a clause that compels them to take action if it comes to their attention that a member of the public is in danger.

Sadly the pace car had little impact on the risk (if he wanted to throw
himself in front of a car he could still have done so, as you pointed out) but a huge impact on the race and potentially the season.

He may have achieved his objective which was apparently to get back at Mercedes for dismissing him, but one has to wonder if he considered the millions of followers all over the globe that will all be sympathetic towards McLaren and Mercedes.

Some people just can't get anything right. I hope they throw the book at him!

The Heretic