The British Formula One driver Lando Norris has warned that protesters would be “stupid and selfish” in endangering lives by targeting this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Norris’s comments echoed those of the organisers of the meeting who have appealed for protesters not to disrupt the event as their actions may present a genuine danger of putting lives at risk.
“Of course, it is a concern, because it is a stupid thing to do to put your life in danger with cars driving around,” Norris said. “It is also a very selfish thing to do because of the consequences it could have on the person that drives the car.
“Everyone has a right to protest and there are good ways of doing it and worse ways. I just hope people are smart enough not to do it. There are much safer ways to get just as much attention.”
The managing director of Silverstone, Stuart Pringle, was equally blunt in his statement that protesters such as the Just Stop Oil group that have targeted sporting events, such as the Ashes Test at Lord’s, the Premiership rugby final and the World Snooker Championship, would be taking a severe risk in attempting similar actions at the race this weekend.
“You are not putting your life in danger when you sit on a snooker table or protest at a flower show,” Pringle said. “A motor racing track is not the place to go. It is extraordinarily dangerous and people will be putting lives at risk if they go there, and any sensible, right-thinking person can extrapolate what the ultimate risk here is. My strong, strong message is: ‘Do not put your life in danger. This is not the place to go and sit on a floor’. It is absolute madness if someone climbs on to a live racing track.”
The British GP is one of the biggest sporting events of the year and last year attracted Formula One’s largest global attendance. This year 480,000 are expected to attend over the weekend, with 140,000 on race day. It garners enormous attention both in the UK and globally and has been targeted by protesters before.
At the race last year the five protesters climbed on to the track on the Wellington Straight, one of the fastest parts of the circuit and were in close proximity to several cars before they were removed by marshals and arrested.
The meeting at Silverstone would offer major publicity for any protest group amid increasing concerns at a variety of events that they have become targeted. There were large queues on the opening day of Wimbledon as the tournament increased security in an attempt to deter Just Stop Oil protesters, including bag searches for cable ties, glue, chains and padlocks.
The problem Silverstone faces is that protesters do not have to attach themselves to anything to make a statement but rather just invade the track like last year. Pringle said they too had increased security and policing for the weekend.
