Moment man sparks panic by wandering along the track during Singapore Grand Prix
A man wandered along the track during Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, prompting the safety car to come out and throwing team tactics into chaos.
On lap 37, a casually-dressed man was seen wandering along the edge of the track near the Anderson Bridge section of the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Race leader Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari cried out over the radio 'there is a fan on the track!' and the safety car was immediately deployed. Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo added 'he was taking a video'.
Watch: Man walks on the track at Singapore Grand Prix
After walking a short distance, the man climbed over the trackside barrier, and with the danger passed the race soon resumed.
Sky F1 commentator David Croft described the incident as 'sheer lunacy'.
Pictures on social media showed the unidentified man walking near the barrier. It was not immediately clear who the man was or how he got onto the circuit.
It's not the first time an F1 race has been interrupted by a man on the track. In 2003, a one-time priest named Neil Horan ran across the track at the British Grand Prix while wearing a kilt and waving a religious banner which stated "Read the Bible. The Bible is always right." Several drivers were forced to avoid him at speeds nearing 300km/h.
And at this year's Chinese Grand Prix, a man was arrested after running across the track during practice.
German Vettel completed a pole to flag victory shortly after today's incident, driving his Ferrari to a third victory of the season as championship leader Lewis Hamilton suffered his first retirement of the campaign.
Read more: Sebastian Vettel stuns Lewis Hamilton to snatch pole in Singapore Grand Prix
Hamilton, who had climbed up one spot from fifth on the grid but was never able to match the pace of the leaders, retired on the 32nd lap after his Mercedes lost power and began to drift down the field.
The victory enabled Vettel to close to within 49 points of the Briton in the standings with six rounds remaining, while Nico Rosberg reduced the deficit to his team mate to 41 points after the German finished fourth.
The next race is the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on September 27.
Watch: Neil Horan running across the track at the British Grand Prix in 2003
Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters
