Tannuka Juneja
Formula 1 has decided to ban the exhibitions with military aircraft that takes place in some of the Grand Prix on the calendar. This show was part of the programming of many countries in the moments before the race, but it will disappear from 2022. Formula One said that the decision was taken for environmental reasons, with the sport determined to reduce its carbon footprint.
Britain’s Red Arrows display team is exempt along with passenger jets using sustainable fuels. Despite being part of the Royal Air Force, the Red Arrows are not classed as military aviation and so will be painting the skies red, white and blue in July.
In an email reportedly seen by RacingNews365 to race promoters, F1 confirmed that military air displays ahead of Sunday’s race would no longer be allowed to support the sport’s sustainability goal to become carbon neutral.
Silverstone Circuit managing director Stuart Pringle confirmed in a statement that the Red Arrows would remain part of the British Grand Prix build-up.
“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.
Performances by the Frecce Tricolori at the Italian Grand Prix and Red Bull’s aerobatic displays at the Austrian Grand Prix may also be exempt.
The ban of the flyovers is not the only measure put in place to reduce the environmental impact of F1 races: this season a new petrol with 10% ethanol of natural origin will be introduced, while in recent years campaigns have been launched to eliminate plastic and reduce waste. Nearly all cars were banned from September’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, with most fans either cycling to the coastal circuit west of Amsterdam or taking the train.
