Furious Formula 1 fans have vented their anger that a Red Bull hospitality “monstrosity” is blocking their view of the track at Silverstone this weekend.
Some F1 racegoers, who have spent hundreds of pounds on tickets, say they are “p***ed off” that their view of the straight and the opening corner was obstructed.
There have been a number of complaints about the Red Bull building by fans who have attended Silverstone this week for practice and qualifying sessions ahead of Sunday’s British Grand Prix.
Read more: George Russell fastest as British drivers dominate final practice at Silverstone (PA Media)
The view in the Hamilton Straight A grandstand, which holds about 4,000 people, appears to be blocked by the Red Bull Pit Stop hospitality suite, which contains a bar and its own viewing platform, complete with a skate park.
A video posted on Facebook on Sunday showed how the Red Bull building seemingly obstructs large parts of the track for those sitting in the stand.
A member of the public at this year’s race, who didn’t want to be named, told Yahoo News UK: “It’s a pretty poor situation here for the people in this one grandstand.
“They’ve built what they call the Red Bull Pit Stop which is a two-storey bar. The problem is it’s blocking the view for a huge number of people in that grandstand which never used to be the case. People are getting really pissed off about it.”
They added: “The further along the seats go towards the Red Bull monstrosity, the view just gets worse and worse. If you’re sitting really close to it, your view is really curtailed.
“I just think it’s a really bad way to treat all the public. Silverstone should stand up for them and say, ‘No, you can’t do that’.
“When you’re up against the Red Bull bar it will block probably half of that main straight and you can’t see the cars going into the first corner. In my view it’s really shoddy.”
Yahoo News UK has contacted Silverstone and Red Bull Racing for comment.
People have been posting complaints all week on X about the restricted view in the Hamilton A grandstand.
User @DebStibbs wrote on Sunday: “Thanks Silverstone. Been coming here since 1987. Sat on startline every year. £1,500 spent on tickets and this is our view. The @redbullracing corporate hospitality freebie stand built blocking the view of the track.”
@SilverstoneUK Thanks Silverstone.
Been coming here since 1987. Sat on startline every year £1500 spent on tickets & this is our view. The @redbullracing corporate hospitality freebie stand built blocking the view of the track.#silverstone #greed— The Duchess of Surrey 👑🇮🇱 (@DebStibbs) July 7, 2024
Another user, Abi Garrett, said: “So for those of us that have actually paid for our tickets, 1/4 of our view is now blocked by a hospitality area for Red Bull where they have a DJ that doesn’t stop playing whilst the cars are racing.”
So for those of us that have actually paid for our tickets, 1/4 of our view is now blocked by a hospitality area for Red Bull where they have a DJ that doesn’t stop playing whilst the cars are racing #silverstone #smh pic.twitter.com/3maidqEfIW
— Abi Garrett (@abilavelle) July 6, 2024
And Max Springer wrote: “Feel for anyone who’s paid to sit in Hamilton Straight A when you’ve got the Red Bull Hospitality building blocking half the view of the straight.”
A ticket for race day at Silverstone costs £309, with some four-day passes available at £429 before the event. However, a three-day pass in the Hamilton Straight A was being sold for £839.
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Earlier this week, the chief executive of the Silverstone Circuit, Stuart Pringle, was forced to defended ticket prices at the Northamptonshire venue.
He told the BBC: “It’s good value when you weigh up what’s included. Not only are you getting a world-class sporting event, you are getting a concert within the ticket price every night of the entire weekend.”
However, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton criticised ticket prices at Silverstone last month.
He told Autosport: “We have to watch ticket prices. I think they’re continuing to rise and the cost of living nowadays, I think it’s too high.
“I’m just thinking from the perspective of a fan that would come with a family. It’s hugely expensive.”
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