Canadian F1 Grand Prix marred by death of steward - First fatality in F1 since 2001

The Canadian Grand Prix, won by Sebastian Vettel last Sunday (9 June 2013), has been marred by the death of a marshal, the first Fatality in F1 since 2001.

Several hours after the race, which was relatively incident free and saw Vettel extend his championship lead, the FIA issued a statement confirming that the marshal, subsequently named as 38-year-old Mark Robinson, had been injured in an unlikely accident towards the end of the race and had succumbed to his injuries.

"The recovery vehicle had lifted the car to return it to the pits and while doing this the worker dropped his radio and attempted to pick it up," read the FIA statement. "As he did this, he stumbled and was hit and run over by the recovery vehicle."

The car referred to in the statement was that of Esteban Gutierrez who crashed into the barriers as he rejoined the track after his final pit stop.

"The worker, a member of the Automobile Club de l'Ile Notre Dame, was transported via helicopter to Sacre-Coeur hospital where he was treated by the traumatology department of Dr Ronald Denis, deputy chief medical officer, and Dr Jacques Bouchard, chief medical officer of the grand prix," said the FIA. "Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital."

"When I came out from my second pit stop into the first corner, I went over one of the bumps, the front locked up and I couldn’t stop,” said Gutierrez.

In the wake of the news of the marshal's death, Gutierrez was one of many drivers to tweet their condolences.

"Today there is nothing to celebrate," tweeted Fernando Alonso. "Terrible news arrive with the death of a marshal this race. Very sad. R.I.P."

"Shocked & saddened by the news that a marshal who is there to keep us safe has lost his life during our race today," added Jenson Button. "Rest in peace my friend."

The last F1 related fatality was that of Graham Beveridge, a marshal at the Australian Grand Prix in 2001, who was hit by a wheel following a clash involving Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve.

Marshal are the unpaid, largely unsung, heroes of our sport, without whom it couldn't continue. Sincere condolences from all of us at CRS go to his family and his colleagues.