'I really don't understand': Drivers fume as climate protesters jump fences, delay start of race
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 on the track at the start of the Berlin ePrix dpa/picture alliance via Getty I
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".
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"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 drags a protester off the track. dpa/picture alliance via Getty I
"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.
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