Silverstone Exempted as F1 Bans Aircraft Flypast at Grand Prix Events Amidst Concerns

Formula One has been making quite a lot of drastic changes in recent times to reduce the carbon footprint left behind by the sport. A few of their measures include the development of E10 sustainable fuel and the new 2025 F1 engine era which will witness more such exciting technological advancements in the race for a greener environment.

Now, here’s another change that F1 has made amid the growing environmental concerns. Unlike the past, the sport will no longer encourage pre-race flypasts by military and passenger jets. However, there is an exception in this for the British Grand Prix.

No more aircraft fly-bys in F1?

The 2021 season witnessed two of the grandest military flypasts at Monza and Circuit of The Americas. While the usual Frecce Tricolori lightened up the sky prior to the Italian Grand Prix, it was the insane-looking choppers that glorified the skies of Austin.

Meanwhile, middle-east countries like Abu Dhabi and Bahrain had their respective sponsoring airlines Etihad and Gulf Air host the flypast using their own passenger planes.

But, unfortunately, this is no longer feasible for the event organizers with Formula One imposing a complete ban on them. Quite interestingly, this rule doesn’t apply to the United Kingdom. Hence, from 2022, the British GP will be the only race event to host aircraft flypasts prior to the main race.

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Why British GP will continue to host flypasts?

As reported by Reuters, Silverstone Circuit managing director, Stuart Pringle, affirmed that Red Arrows would be a part of the grand British GP build-up on Sunday. This is because Red Arrows don’t come under the category of military aviation nor do they come under passenger aviation.

“The Red Arrows have played a significant part in entertaining motorsport fans since they first performed at the British Grand Prix in 1966 and I am pleased to say that Formula One has confirmed this much-loved tradition can continue at Silverstone in 2022,” he said.

“The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, are not classed as military aviation and, as such, do not fall into the category of those displays that will no longer be permitted at Formula One events.”

Overall, let’s hear it from you – Do you think it’s fair enough to let the British GP hold an exemption over the rest of the events?

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