F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Track invasion puts Australian GP promoter in breach of rules!

The promoter for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne is in hot water with the FIA following a track invasion that took place on Sunday at Albert Park before the race had ended.

In a first for F1, The Australian Grand Prix Corporation, the promoter of the Melbourne round of the F1 word championship, was summoned to the Stewards after Sunday's event.

As race winner Max Verstappen and the field of cars made their way past the checkered flag under the safety car regime "a large group of spectators managed to break the security lines and accessed the track while the race was still ongoing," according to a report from the FIA.

Read also: Team Talk - Sunday in Melbourne

Furthermore, "a large group of spectators" was even able to approach the stranded Haas car of Nico Hulkenberg which had stopped out on the track at Turn 2 during the in-lap, with the VF-23 in an "unsafe condition" as it "still had its light flashing red".

This was a clear breach of Article 12.2.1.h of the International Sporting Code. The FIA subsequently requested that the promoter "urgently present a formal remediation plan to the FIA".

The stewards stated that "the security measures and the protocols which were expected to be in place for the Event were not enforced resulting in an unsafe environment for the spectators, drivers and race officials" and stated that, owing to its severity, the matter would be referred to the World Motor Sport Council "for a further investigation to determine whether any additional steps need to be taken or penalties applied beyond the remediation plan presented by the Promoter (and reviewed by the FIA) to ensure the safe and orderly conduct of future events in Australia."

The AGPC admitted to the failures that occurred at the end of Sunday's race and requested that it be given until June 30, 2023 to conduct its investigation into the beach, a deadline that has yet to be approved by the FIA.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.