Silverstone to host full British GP crowd
Silverstone has announced that this month’s British Grand Prix will go ahead in front of a capacity crowd.
Despite a delay in lifting COVID-19 restrictions in the UK until 19 July, the day after the race, F1 officials remained confident of a bumper Silverstone crowd amid talks to include the race in the government’s Event Research Programme. The ERP also means large crowds can attend the Euro 2020 football games at Wembley, as well as the Wimbledon tennis tournament, which will run at capacity for the finals weekend.
In a statement released on Thursday, Silverstone confirmed that it had been included in the ERP and that it would be able to welcome all ticket holders to the race.
“The Silverstone team will now work closely with the ERP experts and particularly the Director of Public Health in Northamptonshire on the specific conditions of entry that will enable the event to operate safely and will be announcing these details to ticket holders in the coming days,” said the statement.
Silverstone hosted two F1 races behind closed doors last year, but will now welcome back a capacity crowd – the first for F1 since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – of up to 140,000 on race day. Attendees will be required to show proof of a negative lateral flow test taken no more than 48 hours before arriving at the track, or proof of having received both COVID-19 vaccinations.
But seven-time British Grand Prix winner and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has urged spectators to remain vigilant, saying he was “split” about the decision to go back to full capacity given the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the UK.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to see people, and to see the British crowd, because it’s the best crowd of the whole year,” said Hamilton. “Last year we didn’t have them, so to be able to see them and feel the energy that they bring into a weekend will be great.
“But I turn on the news this morning, and I’ve been watching it these past days, and I know that the UK rates have increased since people are loosening up a little bit, and not everyone is vaccinated. I do worry about people. I read that the vaccinations are good, there’s less people being in hospital. But I don’t know. It feels a bit premature to me.
“I hope people stay safe, keep their masks on. That’s what I’d encourage everyone. Continue to wash their hands, continue to wear your masks, particularly in those big crowds.”
Fellow Briton George Russell said he was “really excited” to hear that Silverstone would be open to a full crowd of spectators.
“It’s great that we are moving towards this and obviously doing it safely as well – everyone either has to be tested or show proof of the vaccination,” said Williams driver Russell. “I’ve been told you can fit 50 Wembley stadiums inside of Silverstone, so big open space, open air, lots of room to move around. I think it’s great that Silverstone have worked together with the government and we’ll have a good show on our hands for everyone.”