The FIA has banned media and ‘non-essential
personnel’ from Grand Prix pit lanes after a cameraman was injured at last
Sunday’s German Grand Prix.
A loose wheel from the car of Red Bull's Mark Webber
struck cameraman Paul Allen, breaking his collarbone.
The ban, issued by Formula 1’s ruling body, covers “anyone
other than event marshals and team personnel”.
Given the amount of negative coverage F1 has received
in the last few months, this decision is understandable but I think the FIA
have been overly cautious.
Yes the incident where Paul Allen got hit by a tyre
was very nasty, but instead of banning the media altogether to me it would have
made more sense for them to make all media personnel working in the pit lanes
to wear the appropriate safety gear.
Additionally if you look at the incident when was
the last time a similar thing happened, it’s unfortunate but it’s a very rare
and hardly warrants a dramatic change in the rules.
You also have to feel for Pirelli because the tyre
changes they made for the German Grand Prix made for a great race, and restored some of their damaged reputation, but even amongst all that one of
their tyres nearly took a cameraman’s head off.
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