Lewis Hamilton "split" on "premature" British GP full-house crowd

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton "split" on "premature" British GP full-house crowd

Mercedes driver concerned for the fans

Ian Parkes

Thursday 24 June 2021 15:04

Lewis Hamilton has revealed to being "split" following the announcement Silverstone will play host to a full-house, 140,000-capacity crowd for the British Grand Prix.

The July 16-18 race has been given the green light to welcome fans as part of the UK government’s Event Research Programme [ERP], despite the fact England is not due to emerge from its current Covid-19 restrictions until July 19.

GPFans Global understands all ticket holders will be asked for either proof of a negative lateral flow test, which needs to be taken within 48 hours of arriving at Silverstone, or to be fully vaccinated, with the second dose 14 days previously.

Asked for his thoughts on the news, Hamilton said: "I'm kind of split.

"One, I can't tell you how excited I am to see people and the British crowd because it is the best crowd of the whole year.

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"Last year we didn't have them so it will be great to be able to see them and feel the energy they bring into the weekend.

"Second, of course, I watch the news so I see about the cases going up massively in the UK, so on that side, I worry for people, naturally."

Questioned whether it may be too many people, Hamilton replied: "Look, I don't want to turn it into a negative.

"I am excited to see so many people. The selfish part of me, I want to see all the people there.

"But I turned on the news this morning, I've been watching it these past days, and rates have increased since people are loosening up a little bit, and not everyone is vaccinated, so I do worry about people.

"I read the vaccinations are good, there are fewer people in hospital, but, I don't know, it feels a bit premature to me.

"If people go there, I hope we learn something from it and I hope everyone just stays safe. I'd encourage everyone, just continue to wash their hands and continue to wear their masks, particularly when there are those big crowds."

Highlighted to Hamilton the procedures that will be in place at Silverstone, he said: "Oh great! I didn't know that.

"If that covers everything I don't know. I hope it does."

In light of being made aware as to what will be in place, asked if his position had now changed, Hamilton said: "No.

"I think it's been great we've had people, even at the last race [in France, 15,000 per day], and I've not heard any negative things come from the last race.

"But I like to err on the side of caution and slowly build up rather than going full pelt and using our British fans as a testbed."