YouTuber Arrested After Allegedly Damaging F1 Car at Silverstone

A prominent online personality, known by his handle “Angryginge,” was arrested in connection with alleged criminal damage to a classic Formula 1 car at the Silverstone circuit. The 23-year-old, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, was detained on suspicion of causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to the historic vehicle. The incident occurred on Friday during the British Grand Prix weekend, a period of intense activity and high security at the renowned racing venue.

Burtwistle, a popular streamer with a substantial following of 1.3 million on Twitch, was reportedly at the event with fellow YouTubers Chazza (Charlie Clark) and SamHam (Samuel Imie). The group was livestreaming their experience at the Grand Prix when law enforcement officers approached them. Earlier footage shared by the group showed them laughing as Clark attempted to fit himself into the cockpit of an F1 car that was on display as part of the event’s attractions. It is this interaction that is believed to have led to the damage.

Northamptonshire Police confirmed the arrest of three individuals – aged 23, 25, and 27 – on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a vehicle. Following their detention and subsequent investigation, all three were released without further action. Burtwistle, who hails from Salford, also detailed his experience in a vlog posted on Monday. He stated that he, along with Clark and Imie, were held in police custody for approximately 15 hours, describing the ordeal as “genuinely traumatising.” He vehemently denied causing any damage to the F1 car himself, asserting his innocence throughout the process.

Despite being released without charge, Burtwistle reported that he was prevented from returning to Silverstone for the remainder of the Grand Prix weekend. Organisers of the event have been contacted for comment regarding the incident and the security surrounding the display vehicles. A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police stated that the release of the men followed “a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident.” The police estimate that the damage sustained by the classic F1 car, which is believed to have occurred when someone accessed the display stand and climbed into the vehicle, will cost several thousand pounds to repair.

In a separate but related matter, Northamptonshire Police also appealed for information concerning the theft of a steering wheel from another car on display at the British Grand Prix. Officers released a CCTV image of a man they wished to identify in connection with the missing component, which was reported stolen around 14:30 BST on Friday. The force reported that approximately half a million people attended the British Grand Prix over the four-day event, during which 34 crimes were reported. In total, 20 people were arrested over the weekend for various suspected offences, including theft, criminal damage, assault, and drug possession, highlighting the challenges in managing large-scale public events.