LAWSON’S MARSHAL LAW

You may have been aware of a brouhaha last week, when the Mexican Motorsport Federation blamed Liam Lawson for not slowing down enough when yellow flags were displayed to cover marshals on track during the early stages of the Mexico City Grand Prix. In very short order the FIA stepped in and said Lawson was not to blame for the shocking near miss as he left the pits and came through Turn 1.

“I was very surprised [by the Mexican federation’s claim],” he told the media today in Sao Paulo.

“I think the FIA’s statement was very clear and very accurate as well, and something that, probably, I don’t really need to say too much more than what was put in that statement.

“It was obviously checked into everything that led to that happening, to the fact that they got caught out there, and everything I did in the car to obviously slow down and avoid them, and take a completely different line to what I’ve taken through the entire weekend. But yes, I was extremely surprised. Still am very surprised.

Lawson revealed that he had conversations with FIA personnel immediately after the race.

“I had a talk with them, and I appreciated that a lot,” he said.

“I do understand we’re in a sport with a huge amount of variables, and these things, as much as they can’t happen again, they shouldn’t happen, and there’s always a possibility of something like this, and obviously what’s most important is that the action is taken now to prevent it.

“So I didn’t have a problem with any of that. It was just the statement that came out, trying to accuse me of doing something.

“I think there’s obviously been a much bigger investigation behind it now, which I’m sure I’ll get more details on as well, that’s involved the team and stuff like that, but at the time it was obviously a miscommunication.

“From my understanding they were released onto the track and then recalled back, but for whatever reason they didn’t get that message.

“At the time I was more concerned about the fact that these two guys were running across the track in front of me, and that in that moment I have no idea what direction they’re going to run, and I try to basically do as few direction changes as possible so that they don’t get spooked and change direction.”