Hours After Wimbledon Chaos, Former Ferrari Boss Cautions F1 Against ?Idiotic People? for Their Dangerous Antics

The British Summer is here in all its glory, with sporting events happening throughout the UK! The Ashes?the cricket test series between England and Australia?started in mid-June, Wimbledon began this Monday, and this weekend, the UK is hosting Formula 1 for its annual tour to Silverstone for the British GP. But after its trip to Spielberg for the Austrian GP, where the Red Bull Ring was under the spell of orange smoke from the Orange Army, F1 is stepping into an entirely different orange smoke in the UK.

Just Stop Oil is an environmental activist group in the UK that protests the government’s new fossil fuel licensing and production. Founded in February 2022, the group has been invading public events in the country, scattering orange dust, smoke, and confetti. And with the British Summer in full swing, they have had numerous opportunities to protest and disrupt events, and the British GP could be their next target.

Peter Windsor doesn’t want a repeat of last year

A couple of days ago at Wimbledon, as reported by bbc.com, Just Stop Oil protestors stormed onto Court 18 twice and disrupted play by throwing orange confetti and jigsaw puzzles on the court. Although the people responsible were arrested, they succeeded in doing what they came to court to do?disrupting play. Considering that the British GP is the next big sporting event in the country, F1 needs to be prepared.

F1 already got firsthand experience of their protests at the British GP last season. After Zhou Guanyu’s crash on Lap 1 brought out a red flag, six protestors came onto the track and sat down while cars were still going around the circuit. They had to be dragged out and arrested. Having been affiliated with F1 for almost four decades and completing a stint at Ferrari as the team’s General Manager in the UK in 1989-90, Peter Windsor has seen his fair share of unauthorized people coming onto the track. In the build-up to the British GP, he?said on his YouTube live stream, “Let’s hope there are no incidents with idiotic people running onto the track or doing any sort of protests because it is unbelievably dangerous.”

He continued, saying, “I’m pretty sure Silverstone is protected, and we can hopefully get through the weekend without that. But there’s been a lot of silly stuff over the last couple of weeks, so we shouldn’t take anything for granted,” referring to all the Just Stop Oil incidents that have happened at sporting events lately.

Read More:?Ex-Ferrari Manager Hails Michael Schumacher’s “Rare Talent” to Pick Him Over Lewis Hamilton in the GOAT Debate

While drivers and teams are worried about the disruption and danger that would accompany Just Stop Oil protestors if they have an outing at Silverstone, there’s another dangerous outing drivers are wary about.

The FIA gives Brad Pitt installation lap privileges

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt is in the paddock this weekend, commencing filming for his F1?inspired movie, Apex. Being produced by Lewis Hamilton, the FIA has given Pitt and his crew a garage between the Ferrari and Mercedes garages. It has also approved Pitt to be on track in his own F2-turned-F1 car during the installation lap to film.

The installation lap happens right before the formation lap on Sunday and allows drivers to ensure that all their systems are working properly and heat their tires. With Pitt on track alongside the 20 drivers and his crew, things could go horribly wrong if an incident involving the actor hampers any race procedures, bringing the FIA under more scrutiny than it already is.

Do you think Just Stop Oil protestors will make an appearance at the British GP?

WATCH THIS STORY | Michael Douglas Appreciates Martin Brundle, Poking Brad Pitt’s Ignorant F1 Act