Just Stop Oil has been busy with protests at both Lord's and Wimbledon this summer. Credit: PA/Adam Davy
Facial recognition cameras have been installed around the British Grand Prix as part of a high-tech police plan to stop the potentially deadly Just Stop the Oil protest.
Following the recent Ashes and Wimbledon incursions, another sabotage attempt at Silverstone is seen as inevitable by a radical protest group. Last year's race was one of the first major events targeted since Just Stop Oil was formed as a spin-off from the Extinction Rebellion group. includes Automatic License Plate Recognition (ANPR) and Real Time Face Recognition (LFR) cameras deployed around the track for operation on Saturday and Sunday.
After recent protests at cricket, tennis, rugby and football grounds, authorities believe they know networks of potential invaders. The faces scanned by the cameras will be matched against the biometrics of those on the watch list.
Against the backdrop of close surveillance of racers, security staff will emphasize to arrivals that their privacy is not being violated. Locations where the LFR operates will be clearly marked with signage to reassure racing enthusiasts. The data of people who do not initiate an alert will be automatically deleted from the system, the insider insisted.
The special assets for the weekend include additional plainclothes cops, search parties, armed officers and dogs to support uniformed cops, the sources added. .
Last year, five protesters managed to gain access to the track on the first lap by boarding on Wellington Street, the fastest section of the race track. Thankfully, the race had already been red-flagged after a spectacular high-speed crash on Turn 1 involving Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyou, and several cars were still returning to the pits at lower speeds when they collided with protesters. In March, those responsible were given suspended prison sentences.
Authorities have been working on a plan to keep this year's race safe for months, and fears have only been heightened by scenes that have taken place in recent weeks at Wimbledon and beyond. previous chaos at the World Snooker Championship and the Premier League Rugby Final.
Speaking earlier this week after a meeting with ministers at Downing Street, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff urged the protest group to stay away. “We are not here to argue about things, but to (dispute) what is becoming dangerous,” Domenicalli said.
“And destroying an event that 100,000 people come to, I think is completely wrong. There are ways to do what you want to do, but this is completely unacceptable and I hope people understand that there is no place to find the right place.”
Wolf also argued that there is an ecological progress. “Our industry is a pioneer in sustainability, we have green fuel and in 2026 it will be 100% green fuel,” he said. “Both technology and innovation in Formula 1 are important to achieve these emission standards.” track.
Lewis Hamilton supported the peaceful protest but warned against breaking into the track. Photo: Reuters/Andrew Boyers
“We hope we have learned from the experience (of the past year),” he added. “We have 100 more marshals this weekend who will stand by to ensure that doesn't happen.”
London-born Williams driver Alex Albon said he expected some kind of incident. “There is a strong possibility that something will happen this week,” he admitted.
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