F1 Sport

Protecting all individuals at an F1 race through flags and firefighters- captured in images.

James Parker November 24, 2023

The convergence of vehicles racing at speeds over 200mph, combustible fuel, and numerous personnel and spectators creates a potential hazard at Formula One race weekends. Nevertheless, dedicated teams are hard at work behind the scenes to guarantee the well-being of all individuals present.

Ana Belem García Sierra is the head medical officer for the grand prix in Mexico City. She is employed at one of the largest hospitals in the city as an internal doctor, but also volunteers to lead the medical team at the F1 event. She oversees operations from the race control tower and has final authority on whether or not the firefighters and medical team can enter the track. Yarel Barba Ruiz Esparza, also a doctor, is her second-in-command and supports a team of 124 doctors, nurses, drivers, helicopter pilots, and specialists in burns and radiography. They are aided by female firefighters, who are stationed in the pits and around the track. While prioritizing the safety of her team, Ana’s ultimate goal is to decrease their response time during emergencies.

Doctor Ana Belem García Sierra, chief medical officer, briefs members of her team at the Mexican Grand Prix

Doctor Ana Belem García Sierra, chief medical officer and her deputy doctor Yarel Barba Ruiz Esparza, organise the team, handing out sachets of sun cream and reminding the team to stay hydrated at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Doctor Ana Belem García Sierra deploys her doctors to their posts around the track

Doctor Ana Belem García Sierra talks to César Gustavo Cabrera Escobar, extrication team leader and one of the Alpha Romeo team.

Fortunately, it is rare for a Formula 1 driver to sustain such severe injuries that they are unable to exit their car after a crash. However, in the event that this does happen, it is the responsibility of the extrication team to safely remove them from the cockpit. Therefore, the team must regularly train and rehearse this procedure to ensure that they can efficiently and carefully extract the driver if needed.

The extrication team carry out a rehearsal to remove a driver from a car, while the supporting firefighters and medical staff observe at the Mexican Grand Prix.

An FIA official judges the extrication team carrying out training to remove a driver from a car at the Mexican GP.

Doctor Ana Belem García Sierra debriefs the extrication team after their first rehearsal at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Formula One fans watch as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc negotiates the course at the Mexico Grand Prix.

The organizers of the Mexico Grand Prix have reported a record-breaking attendance of over 400,000 for the first time in the event’s history. The three-day race weekend saw a total of 400,639 fans in attendance, with 109,245 on the opening practice day, 141,673 on qualifying day, and just under 150,000 on race day.

Around 1,300 law enforcement officials and seven canine units joined forces with approximately 3,000 security staff to maintain order and ensure the safety of all attendees during the event. The city’s mayor’s secretary of security reported that 65 individuals were removed due to a dispute or misconduct.

Police officers at work at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The chief of police observes the formation of more than 1,300 police officers who patrol the event and seven dogs work from 7am to 5pm each day at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Over 4,300 police officers and security personal patrol the event and 7 dogs work from 7am to 5pm each day at the Mexican City Grand Prix.

The medical team, consisting of 124 members, is stationed at the medical center. The team is composed of doctors, ambulance drivers, support drivers, nurses, radiographers, burns specialists, and extrication specialists. The medical center is fully equipped with treatment areas, X-ray capabilities, and a helipad.

Ambulances line up outside the medical centre ready to be deployed to chosen parts of the track.

Doctors prepare their kit in the medical centre early one morning as they prepare to be deployed to their post around the track.

Inside the hospital, a member of the race support staff has his finger X-rayed and bandaged after an accident during the race preparations.

The medical centre is equipped with treatment rooms, X-ray facilities, and a helipad.

A stocked ambulance sits outside the medical centre waiting to be deployed to a designated post around the track at the Mexico Grand Prix.

Volunteers positioned around the race track have the responsibility of closing the track and using flags to communicate with drivers. Each volunteer is assigned a specific section of the track and plays a crucial role in shutting down the track in case of an emergency or slowing down drivers when instructed by race control. This marks the first time in F1 history that over 800 volunteers will be equipped with new technology, including QR codes on their overalls that contain their personal health information and emergency contacts. Given the constant movement of cars, the fast-paced work of pit crews, and the presence of highly flammable fuel, combined with heat from the cars and other equipment, the pit lane is a bustling and potentially hazardous area. To ensure safety, there are over 80 firefighters and pit marshals present to manage crowds, guide the cars, prevent accidents, and maintain a secure pit lane environment.

Around the track, members of the flag control team, race control, security car and border team patrol and keep the event safe.

Pit marshals line up at the Mexico Grand Prix.

A firefighter in the pit lane stands guard next to the Mercedes team’s garage for Lewis Hamilton’s car at the Mexico Grand Prix.

Members of the track team watch the screens after the race is stopped to allow marshals to clear Kevin Magnussen’s car after a crash during lap 33 of the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Members of the intervention fire rescue truck team use blowers to clear debris from the track after a crash during the GTM race at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Blowing equipment is used by the intervention fire rescue truck team to clear the track of debris or dry it in order to keep the track safe during the Mexico Grand Prix.

Dozens of fire extinguishers are laid out, ready to be distributed around the track at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Members of an all-female intervention fire rescue truck team prepare their vehicle and equipment in advance of the races at the Mexico Grand Prix.

Members of the intervention fire rescue truck team prepare their equipment that is placed strategically around the track while they are parked in their vehicles ready to respond to an emergency during the Mexico Grand Prix.

Fire trousers and boots stand ready next to a fire truck during the Mexico Grand Prix.

Two firefighters in fire retardant overalls stand in front of their fire truck in the pit lane at the Mexico Grand Prix.

During the race, there were multiple incidents that kept the track staff occupied, including Magnussen’s high-speed crash. Sergio Pérez tried to overtake Charles Leclerc on lap one, but due to lack of space, he collided with Leclerc as he was turning in. As a result, Pérez’s car was lifted into the air and spun off. Later in the race, Yuki Tsunoda also spun off after colliding with Oscar Piastri on lap 49. Towards the end, Lance Stroll crashed into Valtteri Bottas in turn 13, causing debris to scatter on the track and a puncture in Bottas’ rear right tire.