Steiner: Marshals' Actions 'Scared Race Director' into Late VSC Call

Guenther Steiner, the former Haas team principal, suggests that the late Virtual Safety Car (VSC) deployment at the Mexican Grand Prix was an overreaction by the race director, likely influenced by an earlier dangerous incident involving Liam Lawson and track marshals. Steiner believes the race director, still reeling from the earlier scare, prioritized extreme caution over assessing the actual threat posed by Carlos Sainz's car.

Why it matters:

The VSC deployment in the closing laps of the Mexican Grand Prix sparked significant debate among fans and pundits, as Carlos Sainz's car appeared to be safely parked off-track. Steiner's comments offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on how high-pressure safety incidents can influence race control decisions, highlighting the critical balance between ensuring driver and marshal safety and maintaining the flow of racing.

The Details:

• Guenther Steiner, speaking on The Red Flags podcast, attributed the late VSC to the race director's fear, stemming from an earlier incident in the race.
• Earlier Incident: An early-race moment saw Liam Lawson nearly collide with marshals on track, which caused widespread safety concerns and discussions.
• Steiner believes the race director was still "under shock" from the Lawson incident and opted for the VSC to avoid any perceived risk, even if Sainz's car was not an immediate danger.
• "The marshals out there scared the s*** out of the race director," Steiner stated, suggesting this fear led to an "overreaction."
• Carlos Sainz's car was "properly parked in the run-off" area, according to reports, leading many to question the necessity of the VSC.

Between the lines:

Steiner's perspective suggests that human factors, particularly stress and recent traumatic events, can heavily influence real-time decision-making in race control. While safety is paramount, an overreaction can sometimes disrupt the race unnecessarily, impacting strategies and outcomes. This highlights the immense pressure faced by race officials to make instantaneous, critical decisions under intense scrutiny.

What's next:

Discussions surrounding the VSC deployment and race control's decision-making process are likely to continue. Such incidents often lead to reviews and potential refinements in safety protocols and VSC deployment guidelines to ensure consistent and appropriate responses to on-track situations. This ongoing dialogue aims to balance safety with fair sporting competition.