Mexican Federation's Response to Lawson Incident Escalates Bizarrely

The F1 community was taken aback this week as Mexico's motorsport authority, OMDAI, bizarrely escalated the Liam Lawson marshals near-miss incident from the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix. OMDAI, a member of the FIA, questioned Lawson's driving during the incident, seemingly in response to his shocked reaction and post-race comments about the unacceptable danger.

Why it matters:

This incident highlights a critical tension between driver safety concerns and local marshalling practices. Such a public disagreement between a national sporting authority and an F1 driver, especially concerning track safety, can undermine trust in race operations and the FIA's oversight. Lawson's vocal concern about marshals on track reflects broader safety discussions within F1, and OMDAI's reaction complicates efforts to ensure consistent safety standards globally.

The Details:

• During Lap 2 of the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, Liam Lawson, exiting the pitlane, encountered marshals on track recovering debris at the exit of Turn 1.
• Lawson immediately radioed his team, exclaiming, "I could have f***ing killed them," and later told media it was "pretty unacceptable."
• FIA officials reportedly apologized to Lawson for the incident, suggesting an acknowledgment of the safety lapse on their part.
• OMDAI, the Mexican motorsport federation, released a 10-point statement defending the marshals' presence as necessary for the safety of other drivers.
• The statement used stills from Lawson's onboard camera and appeared critical of his driving, although it didn't explicitly accuse him of a major safety breach.
• OMDAI's Claims: The federation highlighted that Racing Bulls had informed Lawson of double-waved yellow flags. It claimed, in bolded text, that marshals should have been "clearly visible" and that Lawson "did not interrupt his [driving] line despite the obvious presence of marshals on the track."
• FIA Regulations: Double-waved yellow flags require drivers to "reduce your speed significantly, do not overtake, and be prepared to change direction or stop" due to a hazard or marshals on track.
• Lawson's onboard footage suggests he did slow sufficiently and was prepared to stop. While he maintained his line, there's no indication this contributed to the risk, as he was moving at very low speed.
• No investigation into Lawson's driving was initiated by the stewards, and the FIA's apology further indicates Lawson was not considered at fault.

Between the lines:

OMDAI's statement, largely unnoticed until Thursday and not publicly ratified by the FIA, appears to be a defensive stance against criticism rather than an objective safety assessment. By suggesting Lawson might have been at fault, OMDAI is seemingly attempting to deflect responsibility from the marshals and race control, despite the FIA's internal apology to Lawson. This creates a challenging diplomatic situation for the FIA, which is still investigating the matter and has yet to release its public findings.

What's next:

The FIA is currently investigating the incident and is under increased pressure to present its findings publicly. This escalation by OMDAI complicates the FIA's task, requiring careful navigation to uphold safety standards, address driver concerns, and maintain constructive relationships with national sporting authorities. The outcome will likely set a precedent for how similar safety incidents involving marshals are handled in the future.