Five people jumped the barriers on the opening lap of the 2022 race but an early red flag for the Zhou Guanyu rollover at Turn 1 meant the field slowed by the time they arrived at the protestors from environmental activist group Just Stop Oil on the Wellington Straight.
In total, six were found guilty of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance and were served with various sentences: up to 12 months in person, suspended, being ordered to serve community orders and fulfil unpaid work requirements.
Recently, Just Stop Oil has also carried out protests at Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show, the Ashes and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. Northamptonshire Police has issued a warning to anyone planning to commit unlawful activity at the British GP this weekend.
Mercedes driver Russell says that a possible track invasion would be “irresponsible and extremely dangerous” for drivers, motorsport marshals, event stewards and the protestors.
He said: “We put our trust and faith in F1 and Silverstone and the FIA.
“I feel that we’re all open and free to cast our views but doing it on a live Formula 1 track is pretty irresponsible and extremely dangerous for whoever the protestors are. But not only them - the drivers, the marshals who will potentially be running after people.
“I’d also encourage these protestors to look at the good that Formula 1 is doing on a sustainability perspective. We’re going to 100% sustainable fuels in the future.
"As a sport, as teams, as individuals we’re doing a huge push on the sustainability front and I think it would only be fair for them to have a look and see what we’re doing, even open conversations with us before recklessly running onto a circuit when we’re driving past at 200mph.”
Source: Autosport