Marshal dies after track accident

A track marshal died after being injured in an accident during the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday.

It is the first death in Formula One since another marshal, Graham Beveridge, was fatally injured at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix. The news was confirmed by motor sport’s world governing body, the FIA, almost four hours after the end of the race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, won by Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel.

A statement released by the FIA read: “The FIA is sad to announce the death of a Formula One Grand Prix du Canada worker at 6.02pm (local time). The worker, a member of the Automobile Club de l’Ile Notre Dame, was the victim of an unfortunate accident that occurred at the end of this afternoon’s race.”

The statement went on: “The worker was helping to recover a car (Esteban Gutierrez’s Sauber) which had stopped during the race.

“The recovery vehicle had lifted the car to return it to the pits, and while doing this the worker dropped his radio and attempted to pick it up. As he did this, he stumbled and was hit and run over by the recovery vehicle.

“The worker was transported via helicopter to Sacre-Coeur hospital where he was treated by the traumatology department of Dr Ronald Denis, deputy chief medical officer, and Dr Jacques Bouchard, chief medical officer of the grand prix.

“Unfortunately, the worker succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

“The FIA, l’Automobile Club de l’Ile Notre Dame and the Formula One Grand Prix du Canada want to communicate their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim. The identity of the worker cannot be revealed at this time.”

In 2001 in Melbourne, Beveridge was struck by a flying wheel from Jacques Villeneuve’s BAR-Honda that had passed through a gap in the safety fence.

A few months previously at the 2000 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, volunteer firefighter Paolo Ghislimberti died from head and chest injuries after being struck by a loose wheel from Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s Jordan in the wake of a multi-car first-lap accident.

Vettel has led other drivers in paying tribute to the dead marshal.

“The work of marshals is not always seen, but it is vital to our sport and without their commitment, time and dedication, there would be no motorsport,” Vettel said.

“I am very, very sad to hear this news and my thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Safety efforts

Every Formula One ticket carries a warning that motorsport is dangerous but the fact that it had been more than a decade since the last fatality, despite marshals performing some of the riskiest roles, is testimony to the constant striving for safety.

The last driver fatality at a race weekend was Brazilian triple champion Ayrton Senna at Imola in 1994.

“My dearest condolences to the family of the marshal who lost his life today, our prayers for him & his family. RIP,” Gutierrez wrote on his Twitter account.

“Shocked & saddened by the news that a marshal who is there to keep us safe has lost his life during our race today. Rest in peace my friend,”said McLaren’s Jenson Button, winner in Canada in 2011.

“Today there is nothing to celebrate. Terrible news arrive with the death of a marshal in this race. Very sad. RIP,” added Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who was runner-up to Vettel on Sunday.

While the marshal’s death appeared a freak accident, there has long been concern about the use of such cranes while the race is still going on – but more from the point of view of driver safety.

Former racer Martin Brundle, now a commentator with Britain’s Sky television, observed during Sunday’s grand prix –before the accident with the marshal – that it might have been safer to leave the car where it was rather than hurrying to remove it.

Now-retired seven times world champion Michael Schumacher was fortunate to escape serious injury in Brazil in 2003 when a recovery crane was deployed during a rain-hit race and his Ferrari skidded off and almost crashed into it.