British Grand Prix: Silverstone boss warns against 'reckless' protests at F1 race

Carlos Sainz won the 2022 British Grand Prix

There is simply a precocious accidental of superior wounded oregon decease if protesters invade the way astatine this weekend's British Grand Prix, Silverstone's managing manager has warned.

Stuart Pringle said "enhanced searching" whitethorn assistance forestall protests.

"It is simply a ridiculously reckless happening to enactment your ain beingness astatine risk," Pringle said.

"[It besides risks the lives] of the drivers, spectators and marshals."

He told BBC Radio 5 Live that Silverstone has an added vantage - a obstruction - successful keeping protesters disconnected the track.

• Just Stop Oil protesters interrupt Wimbledon play twice
• Protesters disrupt opening greeting of Ashes Test astatine Lord's

"Unlike cricket oregon tennis, we person a obstruction which is designed to halt parts of a racing car, successful the lawsuit of an accident, going into the crowd," helium said.

"That is adjuvant but it is designed to assistance support debris going successful the fans, not to halt a determined idiosyncratic that wants to enactment their beingness astatine risk."

He said determination would beryllium 480,000 radical attending the circuit implicit 4 days.

Just Stop Oil protestors person disrupted different sporting events specified arsenic the Ashes, Wimbledon and rugby union's Premiership last recently, portion supporters of Animal Rising disrupted the Grand National and Derby astatine Epsom.

Supporters of Just Stop Oil were besides handed suspended situation sentences and assemblage orders aft invading the Silverstone way successful 2022.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman led talks with athletics leaders connected Wednesday to look astatine however they could tackle disruption.

Speaking astir that gathering connected Thursday, policing curate Chris Philp said sports were being encouraged to prosecute much marshals and usage injunctions to forestall protests.

"We'd similar to spot evidently those sporting organisations summation the fig of marshals and stewards. They person to beryllium much cautious astir checking radical coming into sporting events and respond truly rapidly erstwhile thing happens," helium told Times Radio.

"At the gathering yesterday we had with sporting leaders we encouraged the usage of injunctions due to the fact that that allows for a overmuch much terrible transgression punishment if the injunction gets breached."

Pringle agrees tougher stances are needed, and pointed retired determination would beryllium "enhanced searching" successful cognition for those attending the contention weekend.

"I deliberation we request stronger sanctions," helium said.

"The radical who invaded our way past twelvemonth were fixed suspended situation sentences, however that is due I person nary idea.

"They were grossly putting people's lives astatine hazard - their ain and spectators', marshals' and competitors'.

"I anticipation determination mightiness beryllium a much robust attack to that. It is an offence to tally connected to a shot field, I don't recognize however it is not an offence to tally connected to a cricket transportation oregon a tennis court.

"But if you tally connected to Silverstone this play it volition beryllium aggravated trespass and that is simply a transgression offence."