Man arrested after WALKING on Formula One track at Singapore Grand Prix as FIA demand investigation into Marina Bay incident
A 27-year-old man was arrested after the race, with Toto Wolff claiming he 'must have had a couple of beers'
Jenson Button claimed race intruder must have been a 'nutcase' during the F1 Singapore Grand Prix
Governing body FIA say they will request a full report from grand prix organisers about the incident
Latest track invasion involving fan comes after similar incident at Chinese Grand Prix earlier in the year
Ferrari's Vettel led from start to finish to the land the Singapore Grand Prix in an action-packed race
Lewis Hamilton was in a good position to challenge but was forced to retire because of technical issues on lap 34
Hamilton later claimed he was feeling 'super optimistic' with his chances of winning, but he started to lose power
PUBLISHED: 17:30 GMT, 20 September 2015 | UPDATED: 18:54 GMT, 20 September 2015
A 27-year-old man, thought to be English, has been arrested after clambering onto the track during the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday night.
The unidentified individual gained entry to the Marina Bay Street Circuit and prompted a second safety car period in the race.
Eventual race winner Sebastian Vettel exclaimed ‘there’s a man on the track!’, as he sped along Esplanade Drive in the city-state, by turn 13.
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A man taking a casual stroll onto the Formula One track at Marina Bay prompted a safety car during the Singapore Grand Prix
Vettel screams as fan strolls on to F1 track during grand prix
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On lap 37 the safety car was called out once again when a spectator was spotted walking down the track among the Fomula One drivers
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The man disappears back into the Singapore crowd following his bizarre and dangerous Sunday stroll during the Grand Prix
The FIA say they will request a full report from grand prix organisers about the incident.
The Singapore Grand Prix had already been a captivating race up until lap 37, but all attention on the drama was suddenly lost when a fan was spotted walking down the track towards the cars after turn 13. Seconds later the safety car was called out which brought down the speed of all the drivers on the circuit for safety reasons.
Previous incidents in the past involving track invasions have seen individuals keen to make a point via a protest, but astonishingly the man just took a stroll for a few yards down the straight near the side of the circuit in a fashion as casual as his dresswear of shirts and shorts.
Oblivious to his surroundings, it was thankful the man was walking on the opposite side of the racing line, limiting the danger to himself and the drivers who were astonished at the sight of him on the circuit.
After passing the intruder, race leader and eventual winner Sebastian Vettel immediately called into his Ferrari team, shouting in disbelief to his team that there was a man on the track.
The intruder then spotted an opening in the fence, and leapt over a railing near a track marshall's post before disappearing from view just as sharply as he had emerged.
Thankfully, no further drama emerged following the fan intervention but questions have now been asked over how he was allowed access to the track.
The fan had been allowed to walk unopposed on the track for 53 seconds and had sprinted in front of Vettel in between his calm entrance and exit.
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Sebastian Vettel celebrates in front of the Singapore crowds following his win at the Marina Bay circuit on Sunday in an action-packed race
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The crowds cheer Vettel as he lifts the trophy on the podium in Singapore after dominating the race throughout
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Ricciardo, Vettel and Raikkonen celebrate on the podium in front of the Singapore fans following their drives at the Marina Bay Circiut
Formula One team principles have meanwhile criticised the individual, who gained unauthorised entry to the circuit, with Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff even claiming he ‘must have had a couple of beers’.
Red Bull’s Christian Horner added: ‘It looked as though he had come straight out of a nightclub. It is not only dangerous for him but very much so for the drivers.’
Vettel led from start to finish at Marina Bay, and was joined on the podium by Daniel Ricciardo and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.
He was the first to discover the man alongside the road, and said he couldn’t believe his eyes. He jokingly added: ‘I think I saw him taking a picture. I hope it was a good one at least!’
McLaren driver Jenson Button said the 27-year-old ‘must have been a nutcase’ but refused to blame organisers at the circuit.
‘Who walks onto a Formula One track?’, the Brit said. ‘You wouldn’t walk onto a motorway! You can’t control that.
‘You can make the barriers only a certain height but you’ve got to trust in the human race to be sensible.’
AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME A FAN HAS INVADED A FORMULA ONE TRACK...
2015: During practice for the Chinese Grand Prix, a crazed fan leapt over a fence at the Shangahi circuit on the pit-straight and crossed the track before venturing into the garages. The supporter wasn't done there though - apparently shouting demands to Ferrari that he wanted to drive a car because he had a ticket.
2003: While the Singapore track invader acted in a casual manor, that was far from the case at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix. Neil Horan ran onto one of the fastest parts of the circuit at the 200mph Hangar Straight (below) showing off a pro-religion banner before being tackled by a brave steward onto the grass track-side. Jaguar driver Antonio Pizzonia was forced to swerve to avoid hitting him as the safety car was deployed.
2000: During the German Grand Prix a supporter also decided to take a walk on the side of the Hockenheim track but then crossed the road in front of four cars approaching 200mph. The supporter was then picked up on the opposite side to where he emerged by a circuit official arriving in a car after the safety car had been brought out.
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BAR driver Jacques Villeneuve (bottom right) and Jaguar's Antonio Pizzonia manage to dodge Neil Horan who took to one of the fastest sections of Silverstone to stage a bizarre religious protest during the 2003 British Grand Prix
This is the second time this season someone has been arrested for wondering onto an F1 circuit this year. At the Chinese Grand Prix a man ran across the track during practice, even sprinting across the start-finish straight and then climbing the pit wall.
It was reported that the fan then walked into the Ferrari garage expressing his desire to race a grand prix car.
Vettel was the first to discover the unidentified individual, who dawdled alongside Esplanade Drive, next to turn 13. His next move to run straight across the road was an insane act of stupidity; if he had done so just seconds later he may have been hit by the Ferrari driver.
The FIA say they have requested a full report of the incident from grand prix organisers, while Mercedes chief Toto Wolff even claimed the unidentified individual ‘must have had a couple of beers.’ Red Bull’s Christian Horner said he ‘looked like he had come straight out of a nightclub’.
His dawdling entrance onto the circuit gave Vettel the fright of his life and prompted the second safety car of the race. He stopped to take a photograph, then proceeded to jump back over the protective barriers by himself.
Lewis Hamilton’s demise through the heart of Singapore was almost as painful as the authorities were slow to remove the man from the track. Around the illuminated streets, supported by 65 miles of electric cables, the world champion lost power altogether.
This was his first retirement of the season, and only the third time the usually all-conquering Mercedes team has failed to claim victory in 2015.
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Ferrari's Vettel led from start to finish to the land the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Raikkonen
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Vettel was not for catching as he stormed to victory in Singapore with Hamilton unable to put down a forceful challenge in the race
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Ferrari's Vettel leads from the front with Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Daniil Kvyat and Lewis Hamilton into the first corner in Singapore
Hamilton need not worry too much about his lead over Nico Rosberg in the championship, which still stands at an impressive 41 points after his team-mate’s fourth-placed finish, it is the devastating return of Vettel that could give the Brit chills in this hot and humid city-state.
The Ferrari driver, now a four-time winner here, led from start to finish and moves ahead of Ayrton Senna with 42 grand prix victories. That Hamilton was aiming to just match his Brazilian idol’s tally last night, is another kick in the teeth.
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While he may not have been challenging the leaders, Hamilton was on course to extend his lead in the championship before his downfall at the halfway point. Boost-pressure failure was the problem, and the 30-year-old accepted defeat after eventually dropping down to 16th, having ambled round for eight laps. He still believes he could have clinched a podium.
He said: ‘I really thought I had a chance today. I was keeping up with the guys ahead, I was biding my time.’
Overtaking opportunities were few and far between through the twists and turns around Marina Bay, but there were plenty of on-track incidents.
Mercedes’ mysterious tyre problems in qualifying saw them start on the third row of the grid and their pace showed no sign of picking up early on. Vettel – wearing a red visor on his helmet to sharpen his eye-sight under the lights – eeked out a three-second lead over Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo on the first lap alone.
Hamilton and Rosberg were 10 seconds behind the former world champion soon after, as Kimi Raikkonen and Daniil Kvyat tried their best to catch up with the leading duo.
As is usually the case through the twists and turns around Marina Bay, there was no shortage of incidents. The safety car has never failed to make an appearance.
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Vettel leads the pack at the start of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix following a great start ahead of Ricciardo in second place
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Ferrari driver Vettel storms out in front at an action-packed Singapore Grand Prix as he takes a bend with the rest still in behind
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Nico Hulkenberg was the first man out, carelessly colliding with Felipe Massa as the Williams driver exited the pits. The Brazilian had nowhere to go, and Hulkenberg duly clattered into the barriers. It was entirely his fault, and he will serve a three-place grid penalty in Japan.
Hamilton meanwhile cannot take the blame for his downfall. He may not have been challenging the leaders but he was far quicker than Rosberg and was on course to extend his lead in the championship.
‘Lost power guys, lost power,’ Hamilton said as cars sped past him. The Mercedes mechanics tried their best to resolve the problem but the 30-year-old accepted defeat after eventually dropping down to 16th, having ambled round for eight laps.
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An aerial view of the stunning Singapore strip shows the drivers preparing to pull away at the start of the Marina Bay Street Circuit race
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Hamilton takes aim at the bend in his Mercedes as he looks to make up some places at the Marina Bay City Circuit in Singapore
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But disaster struck with Mercedes calling in Hamilton to retire the car and the world championship leader does so after a practice pit-stop
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Hamilton misses out on matching Ayrton Senna's record of 41 wins, which he was in a good position to challenge for before those issues
McLaren arrived in Asia with merited confidence that both their cars could finish in the points. This low downforce, figure-of-eight track suited their Honda engine, after all.
But both Fernando Alonso and Brit Jenson Button were forced to retire due to gearbox problems.
Overtaking in Singapore last night was almost impossible and Vettel had the look of the man from 2013 once again. Ricciardo finished 3.3seconds behind, with Raikkonen a distant third.
He will just hope his supporters don’t get so close next time.
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Force India's German driver Nico Hulkenberg collides with Williams driver Felipe Massa in the early stages on Saturday's Grand Prix
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Hulkenberg is forced to call it a day as smoke pours from his car and tyres are left in bits following a crash with Brazilian Massa
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German driver Hulkenberg walks away safely as the yellow flags are raised following his disappointing crash in Singapore
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The safety car drives in front of the field after Force India Formula One driver Hulkenberg crashed in the opening stages on Sunday
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