In a terrifying moment that sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock, Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson experienced a heart-stopping near-miss during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix that could have ended in tragedy.
The Incident That Stunned Suzuka
During Friday's practice session at the legendary Suzuka Circuit, Lawson's AlphaTauri car came perilously close to colliding with a track marshal who had unexpectedly entered the racing line. The incident occurred as Lawson approached one of the circuit's high-speed sections, leaving both driver and marshal shaken but miraculously unharmed.
Eyewitness footage shows the marshal stepping onto the track surface just moments before Lawson's car would have reached their position. The quick reactions of both parties prevented what could have been a catastrophic accident at racing speeds exceeding 200km/h.
Safety Protocols Under Scrutiny
The close call has immediately raised questions about track safety protocols and marshal procedures at F1 events. Motorsport authorities have launched a full investigation into how the marshal came to be in such a dangerous position during an active session.
Team principals and drivers alike expressed their concern following the incident, with many calling for an immediate review of safety measures to prevent similar situations in future races.
Lawson's Composed Response
Despite the frightening nature of the incident, the young New Zealand driver maintained remarkable composure, continuing his practice programme and speaking professionally about the event in subsequent interviews.
"It's moments like these that remind everyone in the sport how quickly situations can become dangerous," Lawson commented after the session. "We're all relieved that no one was hurt and we can focus on the race weekend."
The Formula 1 community now awaits the findings of the official investigation while breathing a collective sigh of relief that Friday's near-miss didn't result in serious injury to either the driver or the track official involved.
