Everything You Need to Know About the Silverstone F1 Race
You don’t have to know the difference between a pit stop and a podium to enjoy the British Grand Prix. Seventy-seven years ago, in the aftermath of the Second World War, 21 drivers from nine countries lined up for the first Formula One World Championship race. Today, that legacy lives on at Silverstone, and I was lucky enough to see it!
For the 76th Silverstone Grand Prix, I cheered in the grandstands as cars raced past at 200 mph (320 kph). The roar of the engines, the cheers of the fans, and the anticipation of overtakes are enough to get anyone pumped up. But this isn’t only about the race, since everyone knows what an F1 race is, but instead its about the experience embedded in it. So without further ado, here are five reasons to attend the Silverstone race that don’t include the race itself.
#5: The Celebrity Sightings
Celebrities from all around the globe visit an F1 race. You don’t know if you’ll see your favorite movie star or pro-athlete drive in a black SUV in the mornings. And while they normally hang out in the paddock, that does not mean you can’t catch a glimpse of them while you’re exploring the track. Celebrities at this year’s British Grand Prix ranged from Hugh Grant and Billie Jean King to Adele. And since Wimbledon happened to align with this weekend, a lot of celebrities were seen at both.
Celebrity sightings are a fun bonus to the grand prix, and a reminder that all sorts of people can be fans of motorsports. Sometimes they’ll stop and chat with fans too. Plus it was pretty cool to hear Serena Williams was a mere 100 feet from me!
#4: The Freebies Weighing Down Your Pockets
F1 has a LOT of sponsors. Across the teams, drivers, and the brand itself, there are an estimated 300 sponsors. And a lot of sponsors in one space means that they are clamoring for your attention, which leads to free things. Totally Tailored Tip: Head to the Fan Zone between sessions if you’re hoping to grab free merchandise. My favorite freebie has to be the miniature, customizable race cars Lego lets people build. Amex was also giving out personal radios to listen to the race (though those had to be returned) and free portable fans/water bottles.
The Fan Zone is the real treasure trove for free F1 pins and merchandise. The main stage especially spends the whole day throwing out F1 caps and T-shirts. Some drivers like Lando Norris even came out and shot his personal merch out of a T-shirt cannon. And if you’re lucky enough to be selected for a fan competition, those are the big prizes. I watched a girl win a 500-pound gift card to M&S and free paddock passes for her and her best friend (and honestly, the competition was not hard). That being said, you’ll definitely come back from the race with your bag full if you look for the freebies.
#3: The Food is Worth the Trip Alone
The food completely exceeded my expectations. Throughout the entire track, there are probably more than 300 food and drink pop-ups. I had Spudbros for my first meal, the famous British jacket potato, and it was delicious! Not to mention the servers were more than willing to chat about how Yuki Tsunoda had visited them the day before. Totally Tailored Tip: Go before 11.30am if you don’t want to queue for 30+ minutes. I also had an incredible chicken satay with a peanut sauce and coleslaw. And you would think that being at a track, the food prices would be jacked up, and near the main stage they definitely are, but you can find decently priced items as well. I got both of my meals for less than 15 pounds each. Honestly, I wish we were there for longer just so I could try more food!
#2: It Turns into a Festival After Racing
A little-known fact is that at every Silverstone F1 grand prix, there will be at least a few concert pop-ups. This year had a fantastic lineup of headliners with David Guetta, Chase & Status, and James Arthur. My personal favorite I saw was Vikkstar, a YouTuber (part of the famous group The Sidemen) turned DJ. It was so cool to see someone I had watched growing up perform. Another awesome experience was seeing a Coldplay tribute band. Not only did they sound exactly like the band, but they had confetti, streamers, balloons – the whole show.
#1: The Community
While wandering around the F1 fan zone, a girl approached me with a Kimi Antonelli bracelet (whose merch I was wearing). Normally, a certain number of bracelet exchanges happen at Grand Prix weekends, but I had not brought any. I tried to tell her this, but she insisted I had it since it matched my outfit. And that was just one of many fantastic encounters I had that day. From making grandstand friends to post-race celebrations with fans from all over the globe, the F1 community is one of the friendliest sporting communities I’ve ever experienced.
Whether you’re a lifelong Formula One fan or simply looking for an unforgettable British summer experience, the British Grand Prix delivers far more than just racing. I hope you have been at least slightly more convinced that the Silverstone F1 race is a truly one-of-a-kind experience that is worth the money. And who knows, maybe you’ll end up like our grandstand neighbor – who hadn’t missed a Silverstone race in 40 years!
Totally Tailored Tips for the British Grand Prix
Download the Silverstone App
The Silverstone app will give you a schedule for every day on track. It is packed with information and makes navigating the circuit much easier.
Travel Early
While Silverstone is a popular race, getting there takes a little planning, but overall it’s straightforward. From central London, this is what I would recommend.
- Take the Tube or a taxi to London Euston. There are direct trains every 20-30 minutes to important Silverstone shuttle locations.
- Take a direct train to Milton Keynes Central or Northampton, both of which have official shuttle buses to the circuit. Arrive early so you can actually grab a seat; the last ones on the train are left standing.
- Get a ticket for the shuttle and cruise the rest of the way there.
All in all, the journey is about 2 and a half hours, which flies by if you nap through it. I still recommend arriving at the track early, especially if you only buy Sunday passes. Throughout the day, there is a lot more than just the F1 race. For us, we got to watch F1 Academy, F2, and if we had arrived a bit earlier, we could have caught F3 as well.
Bring a Portable Charger
Bring a portable charger for everyone in your group. Between taking photos, filming videos, and checking the race schedule, your phone battery disappears surprisingly quickly. There aren’t many outlets available at the Grand Prix, and if you buy a portable one there, it’s at a much steeper price.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
Wear comfortable shoes; the track is very dusty, and you’ll be doing more walking than you expect. I got about 25,000 steps that day, but we were also doing a lot of exploring. I would also recommend buying a team kit before or at the race so you can have a team to root for. Whether it’s Ferrari, McLaren, or Mercedes (my personal pick), wearing your team’s colours makes the atmosphere even more fun. Some people dress to impress; I personally dress for comfort and camaraderie.
Don’t Miss the Main Stage
Totally Tailored Tip: Don’t miss the mainstage competitions if you want to win big! They’re fairly easy to win, but you have to be at the front of the crowd.
Plan Your Podium Access
Also, for the end of the race, make sure to research beforehand if there is a track-podium entrance near your seats. Select grandstands have access to rush the track and celebrate with the winner! If you’re lucky, you might get sprayed with some champagne. This is one thing I wish we would have looked at before, since we didn’t get the chance to go to the podium. But.. about an hour after the race ends, the track opens for fans. It’s tradition to pick up pieces of tire rubble as a souvenir!
We hope you enjoyed this Totally Tailored advice for the British Grand Prix. If you’re visiting London around the British Grand Prix weekend, it’s well worth considering adding Silverstone to your itinerary.
Written by Addison Sellers
