Formula 1 News: Stewards Crack Down on Track Invasion at Canadian Grand Prix
The 2024 Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has been marred by a “spectator track invasion prior to the conclusion of the race“, according to the stewards. This incident has prompted the governing body to take firm action, summoning the Octane Racing Group, the event organizers, to address the issue. The problem arose when spectators were released prematurely onto the track during the cooldown lap, before all running cars had returned to parc ferme.
This is not an isolated incident, with similar incidents occurring in recent years. The FIA has decided to take a stronger stance, formally addressing the issue with the Canada promoters. The Montreal race drew a record-breaking 350,000 spectators across the four-day event, up from 345,000 in 2023.
The thrilling wet-to-dry race was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who edged out McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ George Russell, who started the race from pole. However, the excitement was overshadowed by the track invasion, which has become a recurring issue in Formula 1.
“Early track invasions are not unique to the Canadian Grand Prix, as the Australian Grand Prix promoters were also reprimanded for similar issues in 2023. During that race, fans invaded the track while cars were still running, breaching the FIA’s security protocols. In response, the Australian GP track invasion was banned for 2024, ending a long-standing Melbourne tradition.”
A similar incident occurred at the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix, where fans broke onto the track at Turn 1 as the cars took the chequered flag. The FIA is taking a firm stance on track invasions, aiming to ensure the safety of drivers, marshals, and spectators alike.
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