SILVERSTONE — A bunch of protesters breached the observe on the opening lap of the British Grand Prix and had been on the circuit when automobiles got here previous.

The protesters managed to get onto the circuit on the Wellington straight, which lies simply after the primary sequence of corners.

In an enormous stroke of fortune, by the point the automobiles reached that a part of the observe they’d began to gradual dramatically for crimson flags which had been proven after a multi-car pileup at Flip 1.

A bunch referred to as ‘Simply Cease Oil’ claimed to be behind it on Sunday. Seven protesters had been arrested.

When instructed in regards to the protest after the race within the press convention for the highest three finishers Lewis Hamilton appeared to difficulty assist, saying: “Massive as much as them”.

He went on to clarify: “I did not know what the protestors had been for, so I solely simply discovered. I simply mentioned huge up the protestors. I really like that persons are preventing for the planet. So we’d like extra individuals like them.”

Mercedes later clarified Hamilton had been “endorsing their proper to protest however not the strategy that they selected, which compromised their security and that of others”.

One observer within the adjoining grandstand confirmed to ESPN not less than one of many protesters was on the circuit when automobiles drove previous. It’s believed the group was in extra of 5 individuals.

The race bought crimson flagged simply after the protestors got here onto the observe. Genuinely thought somebody was going to get hit. pic.twitter.com/AKt8BCZaBO

— Helèna Hicks (@_HelenaHicks) July 3, 2022

The incident had eerie similarities to the 2003 British Grand Prix, when a radical Irish priest invaded the observe and was nearly hit by David Coulthard.

Northamptonshire Police chief inspector Tom Thompson mentioned the protesters put lives in danger.

“I am actually disenchanted that this group of individuals ignored our warnings previous to race day and made the extremely harmful choice to enter the observe,” he mentioned. “We supplied to facilitate a peaceable occasion on the circuit however they as a substitute selected to place the lives of the drivers, marshals and volunteers in danger. It’s extremely disappointing that anybody would make the choice to do that.

“Fortunately we had plans in place for an eventuality corresponding to this and the group had been swiftly eliminated and arrested by our officers. All seven are presently in custody the place their particulars are being ascertained.”

The FIA launched a brief assertion saying: “After the crimson flag, a number of individuals tried to enter the observe. These individuals had been instantly eliminated and the matter is now being handled by the native authorities.”

Forward of the race, Northamptonshire Police mentioned it had “credible” intelligence that environmental activists had been planning a protest in the course of the race.