F1 Australian GP: Fan bleeds as debris flies into the crowd during the Chaotic race at Albert Park
A mass of fans managed to break through security and get dangerously close to the F1 cars during the race causing big security risk.
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F1 fan, Will Sweet (Credits: FormulaRapida.net)
The Australian Grand Prix was a chaotic one during the race and after that too. A Formula One fan was injured by a piece of debris that sliced his arm. The incident has brought attention to the importance of safety in motorsports events. In addition, fans broke through security and onto the track, risking their lives and those of drivers and officials.
A Formula One fan named Will Sweet was injured during the Australian Grand Prix when he was hit by a piece of debris from Kevin Magnussen‘s Haas. Sweet was standing with his fiancé near turn two at the Albert Park circuit when the incident occurred. Magnussen’s car hit the track-side barrier, causing his tire and debris to fly into the air, with some pieces reaching as high as 20 meters. Sweet was hit on the arm by a large piece of carbon fiber, causing a deep cut. The injury could have been much worse if the debris had hit his neck or his fiancé in the head.
“It slapped me in the arm and I was just standing there bleeding,” he said. “My arm was covering where my neck would have been, but if that had hit my fiance, it would have got her right in the head. I realised how big it was and how heavy it was. Part of it was shredded and really sharp, if it hit me in a different angle, it could’ve been horrendous,” Sweet added.
The incident occurred on a packed hill near turn two, with many young children in the area. Sweet said that no race officials assisted him after he was injured. The AGPC boss, Andrew Westacott, said it looked like a “freak one-off” incident but that organizers would investigate. He also mentioned that the debris fences at the Albert Park circuit are compliant with FIA regulations.
Several fans broke through the fence at Albert Park during the race
The incident with Sweet is not the only safety concern from the Australian Grand Prix. A mass of fans managed to break through security and get dangerously close to the F1 cars during the race. The AGPC – Australian Grand Prix Corporation, has launched an investigation into how the fans managed to break through security and get onto the track. The incident happened before the chequered flag, and race officials faced the stewards on Sunday night and admitted to a charge of failing to take adequate safety and security measures.
Westacott described the incident as an “uncontrolled ingress of people” and said they breached a “very robust protocol.” The AGPC pledged to undertake comprehensive reviews, including with the Victoria state police, and report back to the FIA by June 30. The incident was also referred to the FIA World Motor Sports Council for further investigation to determine what penalties would apply.
The Australian Grand Prix is one of the most popular F1 races, with a four-day attendance record of 444,631 spectators, with over 131,000 on Sunday. Westacott expressed optimism that the track intrusion and incident with Sweet would not restrict spectators from being permitted onto the track after future races in a controlled way.
In conclusion, The incident with Will Sweet serves as a reminder that safety is crucial in Formula One races. The FIA has strict regulations in place to ensure the safety of everyone at the event, but more needs to be done to protect fans. The incident at the Australian Grand Prix also highlights the importance of adequate safety and security measures. The AGPC has launched an investigation into the incident and pledged to undertake comprehensive reviews to prevent similar incidents.
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Rohit Bhaskar
(727 Articles Published)