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Richard Drew

What, you wonder, must go through a man's head (because it tends to be a man) when they decide to have a Sunday afternoon stroll through a Formula One race?
It is, I'm sure, a question no one can really answer, but it's being asked after a British man walked down the track in Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix.
Yogvitam Pravin Dhokia has been charged with committing a "rash act".

It doesn't quite seem to do justice to the stupidity of what he did. He jumped over the barrier near the approach to turn 13 and strolled over the track to the other side, only moving to a brisk walk when Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari careened around the previous corner towards him and accelerated to 290km/h.
"There's a fan on the track" the race leader radioed to the pits in astonishment as the safety car was deployed.
Dhokia kept on strolling, hands in pockets until he found a gap in the fence to climb through. Daniel Ricciardo, who was chasing Vettel, had enough time to observe he was on his phone taking pictures.
This isn't the first time somebody has played "chicken" with grand prix cars.
Dhokia's antics pale in comparison with Neil Horan. In 2003, the Irishman, wearing a kilt, ran down the middle of Hangar Straight at Silverstone.
You can even watch a YouTube video of the event. Even though you know no one was hurt in the end, the sight of cars taking last-minute evasive action is enough to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
There are other examples.
In 2000, a disgruntled former Mercedes employee wandered on to the track at Hockenheim and in1989 Nigel Mansell was about to take the chequered flag in Brazil when a man ran across the track in front of him.
There seems to be a word used above all others by commentators when these incidents take place: "lunatic".

There seems to be a word used above all others by commentators when these incidents take place: "lunatic".
Surely you have to have lost your mind to do this. We have evidence of what happens when contact is made. Bruno Senna killed a stray dog during a GP2 race in Turkey in 2008, ruining his car in the process.
Those with longer memories will remember the death of driver Tom Pryce in 1977 when he was hit by a marshal during the South African Grand Prix. The marshal was running across the track to a stopped car. This is one YouTube video I would urge you not to watch.
WATCH: Top five track invasions  
Although we may have a wry smile at these idiots getting their 15 minutes of fame, it is important to remember just what consequences there may be for those who aren't so lucky next time.
We could witness a momentous occasion at Suzuka this weekend.
I'm not talking about the possibility that Ferrari could prove the era of Mercedes invincibility is over; more a driver whose season has played out at the other end of the grid.

Jenson Button is expected to make an announcement about his future. The McLaren driver has been struggling to move away from the back end of races in what is a dog of a car.
Speculation is rife that he is set to walk away from Formula One at the end of the season, despite an option to drive next year.
The Briton is increasingly frustrated by the team's lack of competitiveness as it struggles with the Honda engine.
After Singapore (another non-finish), he spoke about the joy of F1 being the fight to win races and be on the podium.
If he does walk away after 15 seasons, it will be a wrench for not only him, but the sport.
He got lucky in becoming world champion, being in the right place at the right time with Ross Brawn. But the 35-year-old has star quality - his undoubted talent is undiminished and bolstered by his easy-going personality.
Personality is something F1 can ill afford to lose.
How many drivers on the grid would you recognise if they walked passed you on the street? He is certainly one of them and will be sorely missed - if he goes.


With supercharged machines flying at 300km/h, wanderlust has no place on a Formula One track

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel celebrates on the podium after winning the Singapore F1 Grand Prix at the Marina Bay street circuit. Photo: Reuters 

Briton Yogvitam Pravin Dhokia, 27, arrives in a police car at the state court in Singapore. Dhokia was charged with  committing a "rash act" that endangered the lives of drivers. Photo: AFP

McLaren driver Jenson Button gives high-fives to fans as he rides Honda Motor's UNI-CUB personal mobility device at a fan meeting in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Reuters 

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel flies around the street circuit in the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix. Photo: AP 

Sport

Other Sport

Singapore stroller is merely the latest crazy, stupid fool to endanger themselves and drivers at many grands prix over the years


What, you wonder, must go through a man's head (because it tends to be a man) when they decide to have a Sunday afternoon stroll through a Formula One race? It is, I'm sure, a question no one can really answer, but it's being asked after a British man walked down the track in Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix.


Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Pit Stop

Pit Stop | With supercharged machines flying at 300km/h, wanderlust has no place on a Formula One track

Singapore stroller is merely the latest crazy, stupid fool to endanger themselves and drivers at many grands prix over the years