Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Greenpeace activists targeted the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday with protests before and after the race against title sponsor Shell’s oil exploration activities in the Arctic.
A group scaled the main grandstand before the start, with some hanging off the roof on ropes to unfurl a 20 metre banner declaring ‘Arctic Oil? Shell no!’ as teams readied their cars on the grid.
Images of the protest, opposite the main VIP Paddock Club, were not shown on the live television feed which is provided by Formula One Management and watched by an audience of many millions around the world.
Photographs were widely shared on social media, however, with two paragliders also seen flying over the circuit trailing banners.
Greenpeace said in a statement to Formula One media that 35 activists had accessed different parts of the track with two arrested by police after climbing a large Shell billboard at the Raidillon corner.
The environmental campaigners said two climbers also attempted to abseil down from a small roof above the podium, with one stopped by security while the other unveiled a banner to boos from the crowd.
