Massive 140,000 crowd packs Silverstone for British Grand Prix in biggest mass gathering since Covid

At least 140,000 Forumla One spectatorspacked into Silverstone circuit to watch the British Grand Prix today in the biggest sporting event in Britain since the pandemic forced events to shut down. 

The race at the Northamptonshire circuit is being closely watched as an example of whether sporting events can take place safely amid the pandemic. 

It was allowed to go ahead as part of the third phase of the Government’s Events Research Programme (ERP), set up to test Covid Passports. 

In pre-Covid times, the British Grand Prix is normally the best-attended sports event in Britain and underpins a £2billion-a-year industry. 

A total of 350,000 Formula One fans are estimated to attend over the course of three days this year amid temperatures of up to 91F, with Sunday expected to be the hottest day of the year so far.

At least 140,000 packed into Silverstone circuit to watch the British Grand Prix today in the biggest sporting event in Britain since the pandemic led to closed doors last year

The race at the Northamptonshire circuit, set to start at 3pm today, is being closely watched as an example of whether sporting events can take place safely amid the pandemic

Silverstone is part of the third phase of the Government’s Events Research Programme (ERP), set up to test Covid Passports

Silverstone’s managing director, Stuart Pringle, is adamant that safety procedures at the 550 acre outdoor venue have been rigorous. Pictured: Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc during the race

In pre-Covid times, the British Grand Prix is normally the best-attended sports event in Britain and underpins a £2billion-a-year industry

Silverstone has worked closely with the directorate of public health in Northamptonshire and Public Health England to allow the mass event to go ahead. 

The major sporting meet is being monitored by the ERP, which has also seen almost full capacity crowds gather at Lord’s and Wimbledon earlier this mont. 

The tennis championship became the first sporting event in Great Britain to be played in front of a full house this year on its Centre Court and Court No1, while Lord’s saw 30,000 cricket fans gathered to watch the second One Day International match in the series. 

Silverstone’s managing director, Stuart Pringle, is adamant that safety procedures at the 550 acre outdoor venue have been rigorous, The Guardian reports. 

A total of 350,000 Formula One fans are estimated to attend the event over the course of three days this year. Pictured: Red Arrows perform fly past

Event comes amid temperatures of up to 91F, with Sunday expected to be the hottest day of the year so far

Tom Cruise and Wimbledon hero Emma Raducanu led the star-studded line-up of famous faces who attended Silverstone for the British Grand Prix on Sunday

Silverstone is a 550-acre site with grandstands that seat as many fans as a large Premier League stadium

‘I have complete confidence in our ability to run this safely,’ he told the publication. ‘For all the challenges we have had with our finances over the last 18 months we are not the type of business that sticks its neck in the noose and rolls the dice, we would not do this unless we believed we could do it.

‘If we thought for some reason Public Health England and all the other bodies that have signed off on this in some way had got it wrong or we were not capable of delivering it in a way that complies with their requirements we would not do this.’

As the event is part of the Government’s Events Research Programme (ERP), usual Covid restrictions do not apply, and in this case scientists want to test whether certification is able to limit the spread of the virus.

No one is required to wear a mask, but fans must show they have had two vaccinations against Covid, a negative lateral flow test in the previous 48 hours or they have natural immunity from a previous infection. They can do this using the NHS covid app. 

However, the race comes as the the country’s third wave of coronavirus infection continues to gather pace, driven by the Delta variant, which was first identified in India.

It also takes part the day before ‘Freedom Day’ with Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to lift most Covid restrictions on Monday. 

Health Secretary Sajid Javid was among the thousands of people testing positve for the virus this week. 

On Friday, the UK recorded more than 50,000 daily cases of Covid for the first time since mid-January and that tally is soon expected to pass the previous peak of 68,000.

Yesterday, the number of daily cases hit 54,674, with 740 patients admitted to hospital and 41 deaths. 

Public transport hit was also hit, with parts of the London Underground forced to shut yesterday due to a lack of staff.

But Pringle and his team insist that the measures at Silverstone are appropriate in the current circumstances. 

He told The Guardian: ‘As part of ERP, Covid regulations are disapplied; this is a scientific, data-gatheirng exercise and they want to understand what happens. They are taking a view on the risk and the view is that in a large-scale, open-air, outdoor venue it is not necessary to wear masks.’ 

Organisers also point out the site is large and in the open air, unlike other sporting or arts venues.

Silverstone is a 550-acre site with grandstands that seat as many fans as a large Premier League stadium, but are spread out over three and a half miles.

In addition, the vast majority of fans attend the Northamptonshire circuit – which is wedged between the M1 and M40 motorways – by car, reducing the risk of spread on public transport.

With 19 entry gates over a five-and-a-half mile perimeter, people can remain spread out while entering and leaving the site, which is not always the case in urban settings.

Most spectators are hoping to see Lewis Hamilton, the most successful Formula One driver of all time, celebrate a 99th career victory

Silverstone has worked closely with the directorate of public health in Northamptonshire and Public Health England to allow the mass event to go ahead

Earlier this week, seven-time and current world champion Lewis Hamilton (left) took to Instagram  (pictured right) to ask fans attending the race weekend to cover their faces to ‘keep others around us healthy’

Fitness guru Joe Wicks, 34, was also spotted receiving a tour of the garages at Silverstone on Sunday

Harrison cut a casual figure as he rocked up to Silverstone wearing a light blue shirt, with several buttons undone, and blue denim jeans

Most spectators were hoping to see Lewis Hamilton, the most successful Formula One driver of all time, celebrate a 99th career victory. But crowds gasped as he crashed into big championship rival Max Verstappen.

Earlier this week, seven-time and current world champion Hamilton took to Instagram to ask fans attending the race weekend to cover their faces to ‘keep others around us healthy’.

He added that he had heard of people ‘getting Covid and being ill’ even after receiving two vaccinations.

Hamilton said in his message: ‘It was so nice to see everyone today,’ wrote Hamilton. ‘So refreshing to see people and the energy already is so uplifting.

But he added: ‘Can I please ask you to wear your masks, be safe. I know of people getting Covid and being ill even with double jabs. So please please stay safe this weekend.

‘Wearing a mask is a small sacrifice to stay healthy and keep others around us healthy. With love.’

The 140,000 at the race track were today treated to a fly-past from the famous Red Arrows display team as they watched drivers speed round the 52 laps of the 5.891-kilometre Silverstone Circuit.

Tom Cruise and Wimbledon hero Emma Raducanu led the star-studded line-up of famous faces who attended Silverstone for the British Grand Prix on Sunday.

Much like Tom Cruise, another Hollywood A-lister is currently in the UK filming for a blockbuster, and Harrison Ford made sure he was among the crowds at Silverstone for the Grand Prix. 

Fitness guru Joe Wicks, 34, was also spotted receiving a tour of the garages at Silverstone earlier in the day.