live Infotainment Factory: Drivers fume as protesters cause havoc for race

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Sunday 23 April 2023

Drivers fume as protesters cause havoc for race


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Climate protesters delayed the start of a Formula E race in Berlin after scaling tall debris fences and sitting on the track.

Right as the cars in the all-electric series were pulling forward into their grid spots, the protesters - spread across the main grandstand along the pit straight - leapt from their seats and over the fences triggering a chorus of boos from the crowd.

The protesters appeared to be a part of the 'Last Generation' group, who had previously publicly outlined plans to disrupt events across Germany.

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They were quickly removed from the grid by security, delaying the start by only six minutes.

Last generation climate activists sit on the track in front of the Formula E race cars ready to start. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa (Photo by Andreas Gora/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Polesitter Robin Frijns said he "cannot get [his] head around these people".

"What are they thinking … we are here, Formula E is standing for helping the environment and then they do this," he told The Race.

"I don't really understand."

Fellow driver Jake Dennis, who would eventually finish second, said he "didn't really know what their goal was".

Stan Sport is the only place to watch the 2023 FIA Formula E World Championship. All the action streaming ad free, live and on demand

"It looks like they were trying to sit down and cause some sort of riot," he said.

"I was pretty impressed by how quickly we removed that situation and continued with the race.

"Thankfully they did it before the lights came on so it allowed us to sit and wait and I think all the drivers did a good job to stay calm because that can cause a build-up of tension but in turn one it was all pretty clean.

Security forces drag a last-generation climate activist off the track among the Formula E race cars ready to start. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa (Photo by Andreas Gora/picture alliance via Getty Images)

"I think we did a good job to rectify that issue as quickly as we possibly could."

Porsche ace Antonio Felix da Costa said he also couldn't understand why the protesters had targeted Formula E of all motorsport events.

"I think we are all fighting for the same right? I'm not sure what they are trying to do because we are probably the worst category in motorsport for them to come and do this at," he said.

"We are by far the most ecological, sustainable and new zero series that ever existed.

"We are pushing boundaries in every direction."

The protests come a week after the World Snooker Championship was delayed after Just Stop Oil protesters spread an orange powder across the felt.

At last year's British Formula 1 Grand Prix, protesters from the same group also made their way onto the Silverstone track at the start of the race.

Zhou Guanyu's massive start line crash meant their efforts barely caused any disruption, as the race was immediately red-flagged.

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!

Climate protesters delayed the start of a Formula E race in Berlin after scaling tall debris fences and sitting on the track.

Right as the cars in the all-electric series were pulling forward into their grid spots, the protesters - spread across the main grandstand along the pit straight - leapt from their seats and over the fences triggering a chorus of boos from the crowd.

The protesters appeared to be a part of the 'Last Generation' group, who had previously publicly outlined plans to disrupt events across Germany.

READ MORE: Major concern after 'sloppy, clunky' Manly win

READ MORE: NRL stars separated in tunnel after fiery face-off

READ MORE: AFL legend's plea to wayward Carlton star

They were quickly removed from the grid by security, delaying the start by only six minutes.

Last generation climate activists sit on the track in front of the Formula E race cars ready to start. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa (Photo by Andreas Gora/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Polesitter Robin Frijns said he "cannot get [his] head around these people".

"What are they thinking … we are here, Formula E is standing for helping the environment and then they do this," he told The Race.

"I don't really understand."

Fellow driver Jake Dennis, who would eventually finish second, said he "didn't really know what their goal was".

Stan Sport is the only place to watch the 2023 FIA Formula E World Championship. All the action streaming ad free, live and on demand

"It looks like they were trying to sit down and cause some sort of riot," he said.

"I was pretty impressed by how quickly we removed that situation and continued with the race.

"Thankfully they did it before the lights came on so it allowed us to sit and wait and I think all the drivers did a good job to stay calm because that can cause a build-up of tension but in turn one it was all pretty clean.

Security forces drag a last-generation climate activist off the track among the Formula E race cars ready to start. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa (Photo by Andreas Gora/picture alliance via Getty Images)

"I think we did a good job to rectify that issue as quickly as we possibly could."

Porsche ace Antonio Felix da Costa said he also couldn't understand why the protesters had targeted Formula E of all motorsport events.

"I think we are all fighting for the same right? I'm not sure what they are trying to do because we are probably the worst category in motorsport for them to come and do this at," he said.

"We are by far the most ecological, sustainable and new zero series that ever existed.

"We are pushing boundaries in every direction."

The protests come a week after the World Snooker Championship was delayed after Just Stop Oil protesters spread an orange powder across the felt.

At last year's British Formula 1 Grand Prix, protesters from the same group also made their way onto the Silverstone track at the start of the race.

Zhou Guanyu's massive start line crash meant their efforts barely caused any disruption, as the race was immediately red-flagged.

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!

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