Australian GP organisers fearful of ‘ban’ after Lewis Hamilton report led to investigation | F1 | Sport

Australian Grand Prix organisers are sweating over the possibility of the event being banned by the FIA over safety concerns after Lewis Hamilton sparked an investigation into the events that unfolded at the end of Sunday’s race. The Mercedes driver reported a security breach after several fans ventured onto the circuit before the session had officially ended, with spectators breaking through fences and bypassing officials while there was still debris from earlier crashes and cranes on the track.

An inquest has since been launched into what happened by the FIA, who found that organisers were in breach of the International Sporting Code after failing to prevent spectators from invading the circuit. It has been suggested that the event could be banned from next year if the governing body is not satisfied that a repeat occurrence will be prevented, although Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Andrew Westacott is hopeful that no drastic measures will be taken by motorsport’s governing body.

“I hope there won’t be a ban,” he told Speedcafe. “I don’t think that’s necessary either. What I would say is clearly, you have primary, secondary and tertiary lines of protection, which are physical infrastructure barriers, and you then have individuals who look after those areas.

“At all times, race marshals are in conversation, via their sector managers up to race control, and importantly, we have security, going back to our team in GP command, which is staffed by about 50 to 60 experts. We also have what’s called an ECC, an Emergency Coordination Centre, that has every emergency service in place.

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“With the combination of infrastructure and modified and reviewed plans, which we always have to do, then next year it [fans on track after a race has concluded] can happen and it can happen appropriately, but clearly what happened yesterday was not a good situation.

“It was somewhat confusing for everyone at the end of the race. Confusion isn’t an excuse whatsoever. I just think there was a level of exuberance and excitement, given the large crowds, and given the great race we had and people wanted to get out onto the track, but they did so in a manner that wasn’t safe.”

The investigation launched into this year’s Australian Grand Prix will last until 30 June, with Westacott poised to step down as CEO of the organisation a day later. The biggest concern was that Nico Hulkenberg’s stricken Haas, which was not yet in safe mode and could not be touched, was still parked on the edge of the circuit as fans piled onto the track.

“We work every year to allow the fans to access the track at the end of the straight after the cars have passed,” added Westacott.

“This was clearly a breach of what is a very robust protocol that’s been developed and improved every year, and a protocol that we look at with the officials from Motorsport Australia, security providers, engineering providers, and Victoria Police. We then not only do table-top exercises, but we actually do simulations out on track to see that it works. Something hasn’t gone quite right.”

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