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Protestors are planning on disrupting this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone with an invasion of the track possible on race day, according to “credible intelligence” received from Northants Police.

The local police force - who are in charge of policing for this weekend’s event with 400,000 spectators expected over the the three days - have sent a stern warning to the group and are willing to communicate about faciliating a “peaceful protest.”

The plea emphasised to the group that running on to a live racetrack is “extremely dangerous” and their plan during Sunday’s race would “jeopardise lives.”

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Need a reminder? Here are the standings after the first nine races of the season:

In response to Piquet’s comments, and that of Bernie Ecclestone yesterday, Lewis Hamilton did not beat around the bush in the pre-race press conference.

Hamilton has called for Bernie Ecclestone and Sir Jackie Stewart to be censored, and declared “enough is enough” after Nelson Piquet’s racial slur.

The seven-time world champion was speaking ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix – days after 69-year-old Piquet’s offensive reference to Hamilton emerged from a podcast recorded last November.

Triple world champion Stewart, 83, said recently that Hamilton should “resign” after struggling for results this season, while Ecclestone, 91, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday that he would “take a bullet” for Vladimir Putin, also describing the Russian president as a “first-class person”.

Three-time world champion Nelson Piquet was widely condemned earlier this week for using racial language to describe Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton in an interview - he has since apologised and says his comments were mistranslated.

Piquet is the father of Max Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly Piquet and the Red Bull driver - who has “spent time” with the Brazilian - says the 69-year-old did not mean to use a racial slur.

“Everyone is against racism - I think it’s very straight, there’s nothing more you can make of that,” Verstappen said, ahead of the British Grand Prix.

“I think the wording which was used, even though of course with different kinds of cultures and things probably they said when they were little and younger, was not correct. Let it be a lesson for the future not to use that word because it’s very offensive and especially nowadays it gains even more traction.”

The grid may need to watch out this weekend...

Lewis Hamilton will thrive on the adversity of Formula One’s racism storm by becoming “unbeatable” at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has said.

Wolff also demanded the sport’s bosses, and rival teams join Mercedes in “putting your money where your mouth is” to combat racism. The build-up to Hamilton’s home race has been overshadowed by the emergence of a racist slur used by triple world champion Nelson Piquet against the British driver.

Piquet, 69, has since apologised but claimed the offensive word was mistranslated.

But Wolff said: “Lewis thrives on adversity and when things are being thrown at him, that is when he becomes unbeatable. The racist comments that have been made is not something he would consider as from credible voices.

F1 practice live

Two weeks without any racing - it’s too long isn’t it!

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s practice sessions at the British Grand Prix from Silverstone. Here are today’s timings:

- Free Practice 1: 1pm

- Free Practice 2: 4pm

Stay right here for all the build-up as round 10 of the 2022 Formula 1 season starts today!