Formula 1 in Las Vegas
Suddenly people run onto the track: commentators shocked
11/23/2025 – 5:59 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
During the race on the street circuit, there is a virtual safety car phase early on. The situation leads to a potentially fire-hazardous incident.
Shocking moment shortly after the start of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas. During a safety car phase, several marshals suddenly ran across the track in the gambling stronghold. “Oh oh oh,” said Sky commentator Sascha Roos when the scene was shown in the live broadcast. “So the race management is doing things with all the people there at the moment – my goodness,” added expert Ralf Schumacher.
What had happened? Shortly after the start, the cars of Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) touched each other, Bortoleto was then traveling slowly and Stroll stopped. There was a virtual safety car phase in which the drivers had to slow down and not overtake. The helpers then ran onto the track to expedite the clean-up work after the crash – in a still tricky situation when the virtual safety car phase had only just been implemented and the cars were still on the road in the relevant area.
Schumacher recalled an incident a few weeks ago at the Mexican Grand Prix. “This is the second time in Mexico that I have to say: People are being put in unnecessary danger.”
At the Grand Prix in Mexico City, Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson narrowly avoided tragedy: the New Zealander came into the pits after suffering damage to his front wing – and when returning to the track he raced narrowly past two track helpers who were in the middle of the road. “We are still waiting for a statement from the race management,” Schumacher added.
“That can’t be allowed,” Roos added. Both Stroll and Bortoleto had to park their cars after the accident; the race ended early for both. Fortunately, the carelessness of the assistants had no consequences.