Australian Grand Prix organisers have been referred to the World Motor Sport Council by the race stewards from Sunday’s race at the Albert Park Circuit, after an “unacceptable situation” unfolded in the closing laps of the race.
Australian GP organisers are set to find themselves in an incredible amount of trouble, after fans managed to get past security and be trackside in the closing laps of the race.
Fans got so close to the track, in fact, that one fan had to receive treatment after being hit by a piece of debris from Kevin Magnussen’s car, after the Dane crashed on the exit of Turn Two.
The race officials summoned the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) after the race, where they openly admitted that the security breach was an “unacceptable situation that could have had disastrous consequences”.
READ: Jenson Button calls out FIA for ‘strange’ decision which hurt several drivers
“All of this presented significant danger to the spectators, race officials and the drivers,” stewards said in a statement issued by the governing FIA.
Lewis Hamilton was one of the first on the track to identify that fans had broken onto the circuit, something he quickly informed his team about.
“There’s people on the track, man, some fans have got on,” Hamilton told his race engineer.
Hamilton claimed second behind Max Verstappen on Sunday, with fans having flooded the start/finish straight to see the seven-time World Champion lift his first trophy of the 2023 F1 season.
The Mercedes driver was delighted to have claimed a top three for the first time this season and hailed the rostrum as “really remarkable”.
The 38-year-old still noted, though, that despite his podium finish, Red Bull remain very far ahead.
READ: George Russell defends Mercedes handing Lewis Hamilton huge advantage
“The car has been difficult and for us to be finishing on the podium is really remarkable, especially at this point when we haven’t actually changed the car. I feel so, so happy right now,” Hamilton said.
“Clearly we have a lot of work to do to catch Red Bull because they came flying past and disappeared [but] I think this hopefully gives us a real hope and boost of energy. I hope this is a message to everyone to dig deep and keep pushing, it is not that far away and it is relatively close to your reach. We can definitely fight the Ferraris and [Aston Martin].
“Max is in another league, his car is so fast. He passed me half way down the straight and he was 10 metres ahead. I don’t know how they are so quick on the straight, it is insane. They are just in another league. Until we pick up speed on the straight like they have and have the crazy downforce they had in the corners, that is how it is going to continue.”