Controversy over F1 Mexican GP stewards: all the decisions that sparked debate. The Mexican Grand Prix faced controversy over steward decisions.

The stewards at the Mexican Grand Prix faced criticism for two key incidents during the race. The first occurred on the second lap, when a marshal nearly got hit by Lawson. Later, a Virtual Safety Car was deployed after Carlos Sainz retired, even though the Spanish driver had immediately removed his Williams from the track. This cautious decision prompted an official statement from the FIA.

Stewarding under scrutiny

The panel of race stewards came under fire for two episodes during the Grand Prix. Following contact in Turn 1 after the start, race control was informed of debris near the apex. During the second lap, marshals were alerted and put on standby to enter the track after the cars passed, as the field was still tightly packed, to clear the debris.

The scenario changed when Liam Lawson returned to the pits at the end of lap two for a front wing replacement. Back on track, the Racing Bulls driver was around forty seconds behind the pack, forcing race control to cancel the track entry order and request double yellow flags in that sector. However, the marshals on position either did not receive the order or ignored it, entering the track just before Lawson arrived.

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Liam Lawson commented. “I had just rejoined the track, and when I reached Turn 1, there were two people crossing in front of me. I almost hit one—it was really, really dangerous. Obviously, I believe it was a misunderstanding, but this is unacceptable.” The FIA confirmed last night that an investigation has been launched to clarify the events.

Virtual Safety Car sparks further debate

Controversy also surrounded the Virtual Safety Car deployed with two laps remaining, which blocked Max Verstappen’s attack on Charles Leclerc and Piastri’s final challenge on Bearman. Verstappen stayed calm in his comments, while Leclerc admitted he could not have done much to maintain the second place he ultimately secured under the checkered flag. The VSC was triggered by Sainz spinning at the entrance to the ‘Foro Sol’ section, after which he directed his car into the runoff outside Turn 14.

Since the car was only partially exposed, and in a slow section of the track, many insiders considered the race control decision overly cautious, depriving the race of a high-tension finish. After the Grand Prix, the FIA released an official statement to clarify the situation.

FIA clarifies the Virtual Safety Car decision

“Smoke started coming from Sainz’s car,” an FIA spokesperson explained. “Race control received a request to allow marshals to intervene to secure the car and remove it safely. According to standard procedure, when marshals recover a car, the race is neutralized; in this case, the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was activated and remained until the car was moved to a safe position behind the barriers. The VSC ended as soon as the car was confirmed in a protected location, allowing the race to finish under green flag conditions.”

Driver reactions

“Throughout my career, the safety car has sometimes helped me and sometimes not, so it’s normal that you win some races and lose others,” Max Verstappen said. “I’m only a bit disappointed because I think it would have been an exciting finish—maybe more for me than Charles—but I believe the fans would have enjoyed it.”