Formula 1 has warned promoters of the Spanish Grand Prix that their organisation of next year’s event must be better that it was this season after many fans experienced horrible ordeals.
Due to congestion between Montmelo station and the Circuit de Catalunya, the circa 120,000 fans who attended the event throughout the weekend were left waiting hours to get in and out of the venue.
Further, they were left exposed to the sun and suffering intense heat while standing in enormous crowds of people, leading some to faint.
READ: Spanish GP boss issues apology after ‘absolute carnage’
It was not helped by the lack of staff on hand to provide good and water, and one spectator revealed that there was “no care for the fans at all.”
“Absolutely awful, had to leave after q1 and after 30 laps of the race to ensure we could get back to Barcelona before midnight. No safety measure, hours of queues for water, lots of people passing out. Very unsafe, no care for the fans at all,” they tweeted.
Formula 1 released a statement condemning the issues, which also included people waiting for hours just to get a train or a taxi back into Barcelona.
“The huge number of fans at this event both inside and outside the circuit created the traffic issues for the fans,” they said.
“We have made the promoter aware that this is not acceptable and must be fixed for next season.”
Luis Santamaria, boss of the Circuit de Catalunya, issued an apology to those affected by the madness.
“Normally, on a Friday, 18,000 people come, we thought it could be 25,000 this time but it was double that,” he said.
“It is inevitable there will be some chaos when a sporting event mobilises so many people.
“But I put myself in the shoes of the fans who suffered these problems and I apologise.”
Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz spoke about the issue on his Notebook show, and, while sympathising with the organisers, said that they had not done a good enough job in looking after the fans.
“They haven’t quite got it right for the fans. We’ve heard some absolute horror stories about the facilities here and making people, after qualifying, check out with their tickets through a gate,” he explained.
“That caused huge bottlenecks, delays and people trying to get on coaches back to Barcelona. Apparently, in the baking heat, it’s been really, really bad.
“There are two reasons for this. Firstly, they haven’t been used to the number of people we’ve had here, especially in the last few years. The facilities are not up to it.
“Secondly, they have been found wanting with the organisation. I think they have tried their best, but the conditions haven’t helped.
READ: Vettel fires back at Red Bull over cheating allegations after personal bag stolen
“In this heat, it’s horrible to hear people were passing out and there was no water and everything like that.”
Max Verstappen won the race in Spain on Sunday, leading home Sergio Perez for a Red Bull one-two.