Summary
- The incident happened on September 13, 2026 at Madrid’s Madring circuit
- The photographer was accredited and heading toward the podium area
- Video shows the aftermath with the photographer on the ground
- Reports say some of his equipment was damaged
- No clear official explanation has yet been published
A serious incident occurred after the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid when an accredited Formula 1 photographer was restrained by a police officer while trying to move toward the podium area.
The incident happened on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at the new Madring circuit, shortly before the podium ceremony. According to reports and material posted by people at the scene, the photographer was heading toward the podium through a route used by accredited photographers.
Images circulated online appear to show a police officer with an arm around the photographer’s neck while he is carrying professional camera equipment and wearing accreditation. Several reports identify the photographer as Peter Fox, who works with Getty Images and Williams Racing.
Video shows the aftermath
A short video of the aftermath was also published. It shows the photographer on the ground with other photographers and police officers nearby.
https://pic.twitter.com/EX8Dhj2kwC
According to reports, some of the photographer’s equipment was damaged during the incident. Social-media posts also claimed that the gear he was carrying was worth around €15,000, although that figure has not been officially confirmed.
A second confrontation was also reported
A second confrontation was reported after the podium ceremony when the photographer crossed the track again. Full details of what happened during that later exchange have not been made public.
What happened beforehand remains unclear
No clear official explanation has yet been published about what happened before the police intervention or why the photographer was stopped. The available images and video document part of the incident, but not the entire sequence leading up to the physical confrontation.
According to current reports, the photographer was permanently accredited in Formula 1, was wearing official Williams clothing and had visible media accreditation. The route he was trying to use has been described as a passage used by photographers to access the podium area.
What we think
The available material shows an incident that warrants an official explanation, particularly because it involved an accredited professional working during an international sporting event. Until a complete official account is available, it remains important to distinguish what can be seen in the images and video from what has not yet been confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
When did the incident happen?
It happened on September 13, 2026 after the Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid’s Madring circuit and shortly before the podium ceremony.
Was the photographer accredited?
Yes. According to available reports and visual material, he was wearing photographer accreditation and official Williams clothing.
Is there video of the incident?
Yes. A short video from the aftermath was published, showing the photographer on the ground.
Has an official explanation been released?
No clear official explanation has been published so far about what led to the police intervention.
