Marshals: A Vital Part of the Motorsports Community

Doha, Qatar, 26 September 2023 - From the stands to the track and beyond, marshals play a vital role in every motorsports event. Wearing their distinct orange uniforms, marshals are volunteers who carry out several tasks during the races creating a seamless experience for teams and spectators. 

Marshals form a close-knit community, sharing a passion for motorsports and a strong commitment to impeccably executing events. They get unique opportunities to witness the world's most exciting events and their behind-the-scenes. Recruited marshals undergo rigorous hands-on training and are required to learn the technical aspects of the sport. 

Local marshals such as Abdulla Hamad Al-Nesf and Abdulaziz Hassan Al-Qahtani have been actively involved in the Qatar Marshals Club, an initiative by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation.

Abdulaziz is a 26 year-old pilot with a keen interest in FORMULA 1. Motivated by a strong desire to contribute to his country's success, Abdulaziz began his journey to become a marshal in 2019. He feels pride seeing Qatar ready to welcome international teams for major events, and aims to contribute in making it a success. Abdullah Hamad Al-Nesf, a 34-year-old marshal and an avid racer himself, is an advocate for promoting motorsports in Qatar. After being inspired by his friends who volunteered as marshals, Abdulla decided to apply for his marshal’s license in 2021. Since then, he has been involved in multiple racing events and executed tasks as a pitlane marshal. Abdulla finds being a marshal to be a rewarding experience, as he has the opportunity to witness exciting races unfold firsthand.

Roles of Marshals

A marshal’s duties range from conducting administrative roles to helping out on the track itself. Some of these include:

• Trackside marshals work alongside security officers to make sure that the track is clear from all debris and hazardous materials which might have fallen off from cars during the races. 
• Flag marshals are responsible to wave flags along the track and signal drivers for caution if there is an unforeseen incident during the race. 
• Pit marshals collaborate with teams in the pitlane, providing assistance with equipment as needed and line up all the cars in correct order before the race begins.In certain situations, they also record the speed of cars racing with a speed gun to ensure drivers do not exceed the allowed limit.  
• Fire marshals are a team of trained firefighters on standby to tackle any hazardous incidents during the race. 
• Technical marshals conduct inspections of all vehicles, before and after the races to make sure they meet safety regulations, and assess any damages that may have been caused after the race. 
• Marshals are also part of medical teams stationed on the circuit to provide necessary medical attention to any injured driver, team member or spectator. 

Book your tickets now at the official Lusail International Circuit website and as you come to the much-awaited FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2023, keep a look-out for the dedicated marshals in their orange uniforms working to ensure the race week is an enjoyable experience for everybody.