Track marshal runs for his life

A safety steward running on the side of the track, as the Mercedes of eventual winner Nico Rosberg powers ahead towards Turn 1 at the restart of the race.
A safety steward running on the side of the track, as the Mercedes of eventual winner Nico Rosberg powers ahead towards Turn 1 at the restart of the race. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

The Marina Bay Street Circuit may be tough for overtaking manoeuvres but it still can provide dollops of quirky drama.

Last year, a fan invaded the track during the night race. During Saturday's practice, a monitor lizard scampered across, as the nose cone of Max Verstappen's Red Bull bore down on it. It would probably have been the first official roadkill of the Singapore Grand Prix.

Then last night, winner Nico Rosberg had to be alert in preventing a marshal from being mowed down on the tarmac during the opening laps.

With the safety car deployed right from the first lap after Force India's Nico Hulkenberg crashed, marshals hurriedly removed the debris.

However, when the safety car was recalled to the Pit Building during Lap 3, it left a startled marshal sprinting for the safety of the barriers with the Mercedes thundering towards him.

Rosberg said: "That was pretty hairy for sure. Just as we didn't expect the restart, (the race marshal) didn't either. But he got out of the way just about in time so it was okay, but of course, we all had to drive a little bit carefully through that."

Wang Meng Meng

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 19, 2016, with the headline Track marshal runs for his life. Subscribe