Hamilton 'excited' over British GP crowd return, but urges caution

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Lewis Hamilton admitted to being "kind of split" over the news that F1 can race in front of a full house at Silverstone next month amid a rise once again in daily Covid-19 cases in the UK.

Formula 1 announced on Thursday that the British Grand Prix shall be included in the UK's government's Event Research programme, which will allow Silverstone to fill its grandstands to full capacity.

Hamilton welcomed the news and the prospect of entertaining a full contingent of British fans next month, but the Mercedes driver also felt worried about the recent rise in covid cases and the impact it could have on the health of those attending the race.

"I can’t tell you how excited I am to see people and firstly to see the British crowd because it is the best crowd of the whole year and obviously last year we didn’t have them," he said, speaking in Austria ahead of this weekend's Styrian Grand Prix.

"So to be able to see them and feel the energy they bring into a weekend… [But] obviously of course I watch the news, I know about the cases going up massively in the UK. So on that side I worry for people, naturally."

Read also: British GP gets green light for full capacity crowd

While cases are trending higher once again in the UK, Silverstone will only open its gates to those that will provide either proof of a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of arrival at Silverstone, or proof of full vaccination, the second dose having been received at least 14 days prior to the first day of attending the British Grand Prix.

"I don’t want to turn it into a negative, I am excited to see so many people," Hamilton added. "The selfish part of me, I want to see all the people there.

"But I turned on the news this morning and I’ve been watching it these past days and I know that UK [infection] rates have increased since people are loosening up a little bit and not everyone is vaccinated.

"I do worry about people. But I read that the vaccination is good for, you know, there’s less people being in hospital. But it feels a bit premature.

"As I said I think it’s been great that we’ve had people even in the last race," he concluded. "I’ve not heard any negative things come from the last race.

"But I like to err on the side of caution and slowly build up rather than going full pelt and using our British fans as a test."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.