Lewis Hamilton, Champion Of The Environment, Supports His People With But One Condition

The fans who witnessed the British Grand Prix left with quite the story to tell their kids. Zhou Guanyu crashed, resulting in a multi-car pileup. The race was red-flagged and restarted. Carlos Sainz achieved his maiden Grand Prix victory. And protesters descended onto the Silverstone racetracks. Amidst all the action, Lewis Hamilton spoke about the issue of the protest.

Hamilton finished third after Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz at the British Grand Prix, marking his third podium finish of the season.

Lewis Hamilton talks about the protest

The race at Silverstone began with a mishap as Guanyu’s crash on Turn-1 led to an inevitable red flag. Immediately after, people saw six or seven protesters storming the tracks near Wellington Straight. They sat down in the middle of the tracks in a bid to “stop all new fossil fuel licensing”.

Thankfully, the cars had slowed due to the red flag, and marshalls soon apprehended the protesters, clearing them from the tracks.

Lewis Hamilton said in the post-race press conference: “Big up the protesters . . . I love that people are fighting for the planet and we need more people like them.”

However, this statement seemed to encourage the behavior displayed at Silverstone today, which many deemed dangerous and outright lunacy. Mercedes put out a statement clarifying Lewis’s words, saying he agrees with the protest but not its means.

Soon after that, Hamilton explained his thoughts on Instagram: “As we’ve seen today, this is a very dangerous sport. I wasn’t aware of the protests today, and while I’ll always support those standing up for what they believe in, it must be done safely. Please don’t jump onto our race circuits to protest, we don’t want to put you in harm’s way.”

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Lewis Hamilton is certainly all for environmental-friendly awareness and activism. But he rightfully does not agree with a protest held on the dangerous racetrack at Silverstone.

The aftermath of the protest at Silverstone

In a public statement, Just Stop Oil took responsibility for the protest and wrote: “If you are more outraged about this disruption than our world being burnt before our eyes, then you need to get your priorities straight.”

This was not their first time protesting such issues, and by their words, it does not seem like it will be their last.

Most people seem to disagree with Just Stop Oil’s actions though. Agreeing with Hamilton’s later words, his peers and officials speak on the subject.

“I think people have the opportunity to speak out and do manifestations wherever they want, because it’s a right. I just don’t believe jumping into a Formula 1 track is the best way to do it, and putting yourself at risk and all the other drivers,” says Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz in a post-race conference.

Northamptonshire Police chief inspector Tom Thompson said the protesters put lives at risk.

“We offered to facilitate a peaceful event at the circuit but they instead chose to put the lives of the drivers, marshals and volunteers at risk . . . Thankfully we had plans in place for an eventuality such as this and the group were swiftly removed and arrested by our officers.”

F1 boss Stefano Domenicali also said that the protest was “irresponsible and dangerous”.

“Everyone has the right to speak out on issues, but no one has the right to put lives in danger. The actions of a small group of people today were completely irresponsible and dangerous.”

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Do you believe the activists were right to protest in the way they did? Is that what it will take to be heard? Or, did they just behave recklessly and put everyone in danger in the name of a cause?