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Formula 1 will be met with a full capacity crowd at this year’s British Grand Prix after the race was included as one of the UK government’s pilot events.
The grand prix was optimistic of welcoming a full capacity crowd earlier this year when the final lifting of restrictions in the UK was set for a month prior to the race on June 21.
However, the news that those final restrictions would remain in place until July 19 – the day after the British GP concludes – cast doubt over whether or not fans would be allowed to attend the Silverstone race.
The event has been included on the ‘Events Research Programme’, a government pilot scheme that will assess the feasibility of holding major events.
Other such events include England’s Euro 2020 games at Wembley and the tennis Grand Slam tournament Wimbledon.
Last week, F1 released a statement saying it was having “very productive discussions” with the government, and it today announced Silverstone will welcome a full capacity crowd.
The British GP will host the first ever F1 sprint qualifying race on Saturday, and that race will award points and set the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.
“It is fantastic news that Silverstone will be a full capacity event,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said.
“It will be an incredible weekend with hundreds of thousands of fans being there to see our first ever sprint event on the Saturday and the main event on Sunday.
“All of the drivers and the teams are hugely looking forward to Silverstone and we can’t wait to be there in July.”
Last year, Silverstone hosted two F1 races back-to-back behind closed doors as part of F1’s 17-round schedule.
In 2021, the British GP will take place on July 18 and open its grandstands that seat around 70,000 people, with thousands more expected around the circuit.
Ticket holders will have to show proof of vaccination (14 days has to have passed since the second dose), or alternatively, you have to return a negative lateral flow test 48 hours of arrival at Silverstone.
“This is something we have all been working towards for months and I cannot wait to welcome a full capacity crowd back to Silverstone this July,” Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle added.
“Many of our fans rolled their tickets over from 2020 but they are now well placed to enjoy what is sure to be one of the highlights of the summer.”
