Liam Lawson has shared his appreciation for the FIA seeking him out after the Mexico City Grand Prix to discuss his terrifying near-miss with F1 marshals who had run across the circuit in front of his car.
In the hours after the incident, the motorsport governing body released a statement confirming it would launch an investigation, but Mexico's motorsport federation blamed the 23-year-old, something he is still "very surprised" by.
The Racing Bulls driver had to take evasive action on the third lap at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez after a miscommunication between race control and those working trackside.
Having pitted after suffering damage to his VCARB 02, Lawson re-emerged onto the circuit to find two marshals, who were collecting debris, running across the tarmac in the middle of Turn 1.
As soon as it became clear that the New Zealander had come in to stop, the FIA's order to dispatch marshals was rescinded, but the message was evidently not received.
The primary accusation levied against Lawson by the Mexican racing authority is that he did not take sufficient avoiding action.
In response to this development, the FIA defended the driver, saying he "slowed appropriately and reacted correctly" to the double-waved yellow flags.
When asked about his conversations with the FIA by media, including RacingNews365, and whether he was surprised by the stance taken by the OMDAI (Mexican Automobile Club), Lawson replied: "Yes, I was very surprised.
"I think the FIA's statement was very clear and very accurate as well. Something that is probably... I don't really say too much more than what was put in that statement.
"It was obviously checked into, everything that led to that happening, so the fact that they got called out there, and then everything I did in the car to obviously slow down and avoid them, and take a completely different line to what I've taken through the entire weekend.
"But yes, I was extremely surprised — still am very surprised."
When his interactions with the FIA before the surprising blame game were queried, Lawson revealed the motorsport governing body had apologised for the scary moment on Sunday evening.
"I had a talk with them, and I appreciated that a lot," he said. "I do understand, we're in a sport with a huge amount of variables, and these things — as much as they can't happen again, and they shouldn't happen — there's always a possibility of something like this.
"And obviously, what's most important is that the actions taken now to prevent it.
"So I didn't have a problem with any of that; it was just the statement that came out trying to accuse me of doing something."
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