With the British GP in less than a day, the frontline story is as exciting as ever. However, the behind-the-scenes news from the streets of Northamptonshire isn’t very pleasing. It seems like the 2024 British GP has become the sequel to the 2023 Las Vegas GP. No, this isn’t about the on-track rivalry. Instead, this is regarding the complaints of the locals against the organizers! Furious town residents have complained, saying parking wardens ‘plagued’ them.

Apparently, these wardens have blocked nearly half a dozen streets and even ‘slapped’ the locals with tickets, ahead of the Grand Prix weekend. Moreover, residents of a Northamptonshire village can’t park outside their homes. On the other hand, the town locals have also ‘blasted’ the organizers of the British GP for turning it into “a ‘music festival’ with crowds and blaring music.”

As reported by DailyMail, a local, Simon Page stated: “The cones in my street came out at midnight and by 7 am this morning [Friday] there were traffic wardens pounding up and down. It’s even worse this year than last because the council has closed more access in and out of the village.” Now, these problems bring a question to the inquiring minds: Are the organizers aware of the trouble these residents are facing? And if yes, then, where is the zeal to improve their conditions?

Residents of Vegas have also made similar complaints after the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year. This event also stirred some mixed reactions from the audience, with even Lewis Hamilton voicing his concerns regarding the problem. But still, the issues prevail despite a new circuit, with fans questioning: Will anyone ever resolve this problem?

The British GP mirrors the same storyline as the 2023 Las Vegas GP

Many are now comparing the British GP organizers’ potential disruption of Northamptonshire residents’ daily lives to the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Some fans even stated: “The whole ‘circus’ has upset many of the locals,” adding further, “Construction work has been taking place in the area for the event. That has caused road and footpath closures, slow traffic, and noise pollution, among other issues, which has angered residents and businesses.” At present, it remains unclear if construction was involved in the Silverstone GP, as the noise pollution, road closures, and slow traffic are still annoying the locals.

In November 2023, Lewis Hamilton raised concerns about the American race’s negative impact on Nevada City residents and businesses. He called for the F1 chief to ‘look after’ the Vegas locals amidst all the preps, emphasizing, “We’ve got to make sure that people are taken care of I think. We can’t be a circus that shows up that’s all glitz and glamour and people are affected negatively by it.” A very fair point. Why should the hustle of organizing a race turn into a big commotion for the residents of the town or city? Continued disruption could deter F1’s viewership, and these troubles could even make local fans turn away from the sport.

The ongoing issues in Northamptonshire during the British GP are a major concern, and organizers must promptly address these complaints to minimize disruption among local communities. Neglecting these issues could harm F1’s reputation and viewership, possibly imposing a negative impact on the sport, which won’t be favorable. Hence, responsible resolution is now crucial for maintaining local goodwill and support.

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