In a dramatic turn during the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint, the initial start was unexpectedly halted due to fears of a repeat incident reminiscent of Monaco’s chaotic crash.
The Austrian Grand Prix Sprint saw an unusual delay as Race Control decided to abort the initial start. This decision was sparked by concerns over the positioning of photographers at Turn 1, which was deemed potentially dangerous. Despite not breaching any off-limits area, the photographers’ position raised alarms about the risk of debris reaching them in the event of an accident.
This cautionary move was influenced by a previous incident at the Monaco Grand Prix, where a collision involving Sergio Perez and two Haas cars resulted in debris flying behind a protective fence and injuring a photographer. Memories of this chaotic scene were still fresh, prompting officials to err on the side of safety at Austria.
As cars lined up on the grid, Race Control observed the photographers’ location, fearing a repeat of the Monaco scenario where debris intrusion could occur during a multi-car crash. To mitigate this risk, the start was aborted, and a second formation lap was initiated to allow photographers to reposition safely.
Looking ahead to the main race on Sunday, new measures were put in place to prevent photographers from accessing certain areas behind barriers during the essential early laps of the race, only allowing them back when the race situation stabilized.
The aborted start at the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint highlights the ongoing vigilance required to ensure safety in Formula 1, showing how past incidents can shape current decision-making.
