Dismissed race director criticizes FIA regarding incidents involving marshals.

      "This must never occur"

      Former Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich has openly criticized the current race management following a second incident involving marshals on the track in just a few weeks, this time during the Las Vegas GP. Video footage from Turn 1 in Vegas showed marshals running across the run-off area while drivers were approaching at high speed. In an interview with Sky Deutschland, Wittich deemed the situation "absolutely unacceptable".

      "This must never occur. This situation is absolutely unacceptable," he stated. "Initially, there is a specific procedure at Turn 1. Marshals are prepared to clean up debris, and they take action only after the last car has passed. That’s standard practice, but it should never take so long that the drivers have already completed their lap."

      This criticism follows a recent incident at the Mexican GP, where Liam Lawson had to avoid two marshals walking on the track as he entered Turn 1 during green-flag conditions. Both incidents have raised concerns that the current FIA race direction is not learning from previous mistakes.

      Wittich noted that in Las Vegas, proper procedures were again not adhered to. "At that time, a double yellow flag is simply not sufficient," he argued. "This is genuinely wrong, and I cannot comprehend how this is the second time this year that such a mistake has occurred."

      He believes the solution is simple. "The easiest response to this type of issue, even if something is temporarily postponed or other measures are necessary, is to implement a full course yellow," Wittich explained. "This can be activated in seconds, requiring everyone to slow down.

      "That’s the fastest and simplest way to ensure safety in such situations because, from my perspective, you definitely don’t want to face this again." Wittich was removed from his position as F1 race director last year.