Photographing Motorsport can be dangerous...

[stefan]

Sometimes the drivers might attack you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6e3bDs2lgw

Anyone else had an experience like that? Sometimes I've had drivers look like they're scowling but I put it down to the padding on the helmet.

[MikeHoyer]

Nope. Thought I was going to get wiped out by an F3 car at Brands Hatch at the weekend though

[RCMADD]

I HAVE renault weekend at donington, megane driver shoved me because i towed his car through the gravel whilst it was in gear and him still in it.
so i helped him to the wall and told him very nicely to get over it. big cheers from the crowd followed

[Tim the Grey]

Hmmm. I might have been tempted to hit him with the camera...

There is NO excuse for that behavior. I tell off my 3 yo son for pushing people like that!

[JurekB]

Originally Posted by MikeHoyer

Nope. Thought I was going to get wiped out by an F3 car at Brands Hatch at the weekend though

But did you get the shot?

[MikeHoyer]

I got some of it, and the aftermath. The rest of the time was spent legging it!

[Kelvin]

The other photographers never helped him up did they!

[Paddockman]

Typical of the bloke, if I was that guy I would claim a back injury from it and sue the Finnish prat!

[minimangler]

Originally Posted by Paddockman

Typical of the bloke, if I was that guy I would claim a back injury from it and sue the Finnish prat!

Hmmm...not a prat. That guy was fully in his face and deserved it.

[stefan]

He was actually quite a well known photographer - Paul Henri Cahier no less. On his website you can see the photo he took at the moment he was pushed...

http://www.f1-photo.com/

[Samoan Attorney]

Originally Posted by minimangler

Hmmm...not a prat. That guy was fully in his face and deserved it.

Try engaging brain before you type.

Kimi assaulted Paul-Henri and could have easily faced arrest if a complaint had been made, particularly in the UK where the police are forced to take any trivial complaint seriously. Great for the headlines, but F1 has enough negative press on other issues without this sort of behaviour.

Much is said about drivers as role models, the corporations who bankroll their lifestyles expect it. This assault does not fit in with that aim.

Showing a lot more class than the irritable Finn, who really should have his emotions under control before the start of the race, Paul Henri has issued a press release.

Silverstone 2008 Incident -- Press Release
Following the incident involving Kimi Raikkonen and Paul-Henri Cahier on the starting grid of the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, that saw the Finnish driver assault the photographer, we decided that it was necessary to clarify a few points.
There never was any contact between the two men, nor did Paul-Henri ever touch Kimi's equipment. Furthermore, the distance at which Paul-Henri Cahier was taking a picture, although close, was completely standard. The photographers who take pictures at Grand Prix races are all professionals who have been accredited by the FIA, and as the dozen other photographers who were standing next to Paul-Henri Cahier prove, there was nothing unusual or unethical about this situation.
Finally, Paul-Henri Cahier has been an F1 photographer for almost forty years and has been close to the greatest champions, but none of them has ever behaved in such a rude manner. It is understandable that drivers might get irritable because of the pressure they undergo, but Kimi Raikkonen never even attempted to express his discontent in a non violent way. Paul-Henri Cahier luckily did not suffer any injury, and so does not intend to take any action, but he regrets the arrogance with which Kimi Raikkonen treated someone who was merely doing his job.

Paul Henri, like his late father, is a class act and a tremendous photographer, Kimi should be ashamed of himself.

John Brooks

[Piglet]

He doesn't appear "in his face" to me, you can see Kimi take a step forward to shove him.

When I took Lewis to the toilet last year (!), he had a tv camera right in his face the whole time he queued for the loo, plus a whole bunch of still photogs. It goes with the territory and Kimi's behaviour was very poor. I must have been fairly close to this and didn't spot anything.

[dj choc ice]

what a bloody prat pushing that photographer, christ if someone pushed me like that i would push them right back, disgraceful behaviour from a world champion, kimi should be ashamed of himself id more expect that kind of behaviour from a chav!

[Happy Snapper]

I agree JB, good to speak yesterday and enjoy your travels!
IMHO despite the "press release" Kimi should at the very least apologise the footage indicates that there was contact so it could be considered an assault