Remember when several people wearing orange t-shirts from an environmental protest group invaded the track on the opening lap of last year’s British GP? Well, following a two-week trial, they’ve now been convicted.
In case you don’t remember, let me jog your memory.
The group ran onto the track and lay down on the Wellington straight. But, a very scary Turn 1 incident involving Zhou Guanyu caused a red flag. In a huge stroke of good fortune (for the protesters, that is), the cars had slowed significantly, and another dangerous incident was averted.
Prosecutors claimed the members of the Just Stop Oil environmental group had caused an immediate risk of serious harm to drivers, marshals and themselves. They denied all charges of causing a public nuisance and the prosecution’s claims.
The jury was shown footage of five of them being dragged off the track as Yuki Tsunoda, and Esteban Ocon passed by.
Now, all six of the protesters have been convicted and are due to be sentenced on March 31st, to which they were told they could face a possible jail term when they return.
We’re just grateful for the track marshals that keep everyone safe and that nobody was hurt.
