Climate group claim responsibility for risky Formula E protest

German climate protest group Letzte Generation (Last Generation) have claimed responsibility for the protest at the start Formula E's Berlin E-Prix.

As the start procedure was playing out at Tempelhof, two protesters scaled the catch-fencing and gained access to the grid - although the race in the all-electric racing series had yet to begin.

Race director Scot Elkins ensured the track was secure before starting the event - won by Envision Racing's Nick Cassidy.

Letzte Generation held a series of demonstrations around the German capital over the weekend - before claiming responsibility on Twitter:

"We are at the @eFORMELde racetrack to sound the alarm.

"It's time to slow down. Because we're on the highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator."

The E-Prix is the latest in a series of sporting events to be hit by climate protesters, with the Snooker World Championship delayed by a related group, Just Stop Oil, earlier in the week.

In addition, the same group also invaded the track after the start of the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but fortunately, the race had been red-flagged before the pack reached the protesters on the Wellington Straight after Zhou Guanyu's barrier-vaulting accident.

"The race was temporarily delayed while local authorities responded to a protest action unrelated to the event," explained a Formula E statement.

"Security services quickly and safely contained the disruption. The event was able to proceed as planned."

Drivers were also confused by the protest, with Antonio Felix da Costa (who finished fifth) explaining that Formula E was "probably the worst category in motorsport for them to come and do this at," to media.