‘Why Silverstone is the Best Grand Prix on the F1 Calendar’

History at Every Turn

One thing I love to geek out about is the Championship’s 75-year history, and beyond. For me, racing at circuits that have heritage is really important and Silverstone certainly ticks that box.

The circuit hosted the very first F1 race back in 1950 and has gone on to welcome the world’s best racing drivers across grand prix weekends for decades. It has seen so many generations of drivers and cars across its amazing - and ever-changing - configuration, and every part of the venue has a story to tell.

Much like Monaco or Spa-Francorchamps, the names of the corners at Silverstone are so special too. Sections like Maggots and Becketts are spectacular, and every turn contains Formula 1 lore.

I love being able to rotate grandstands across the Friday with a ticket, as it gives fans a chance to watch the practice action from a variety of seats. My personal favourite is Woodcote A, as you get to see so much of the circuit!

From the Campsite to Chapel

During my first full race weekend at the British Grand Prix, I stayed in a campsite walking distance from the circuit. The weather behaved itself and the entire weekend was dry, with my umbrella only being used to give us some rest from the sun’s harsh rays. It was also lucky that the sun stayed out, as my seat at Chapel wasn’t covered!

However, I have also been a victim of the ‘British Summer’, and that came during my first visit in 2017. I was only there during the Saturday, but the rain came down and the emergency ponchos broke out. Not the most fashionable of items, but a backpack essential for F1 fans wherever you are.

Getting into Silverstone can also be challenging if you don’t drive, but if you can hitch a lift with a friend or family member and camp near the track, I would highly recommend it. Lots of sites also have good facilities and little shops, and you can spend your evenings at the track enjoying the entertainment.

Festival Feeling

Two of my biggest passions are racing and music, which is why my recent trips to the British Grand Prix have been pure bliss. I get to spend the day watching racing across several different categories, and then once things have ended on track I can walk over to the fan stage and get set up for a night of fantastic singing and dancing with my friends.

Silverstone have really embraced big headline acts to entertain fans in the evenings, and make sure that every moment spent at the track is memorable. In previous years, the likes of Calvin Harris and Tom Grennan have graced the main stage, with the artists getting better every year. The stage also hosts your favourite motorsport podcasts during the day, as well as activations with the drivers.

It really does make the whole weekend feel like an experience, and not just sitting around waiting for cars to take to the track – not that there’s anything wrong with that! The food and drink options are also great, whether you’re wanting a strong cup of tea when waiting in the rain or an ice cold slush for those warmer days.

The Silverstone Museum is also a must for fans if you’re passing by and is free to ticket holders across the British Grand Prix weekend!

The track invasion was unforgettable

Silverstone is home to one of my core life memories, and that was invading the track after the 2022 race.

I had a ticket to watch from the inside of Abbey, the first corner, and once the race was done and the gates unlocked, I bolted down the Hamilton Straight. I think it was a mix of the adrenaline and sheer distance to the podium, but my heart felt like it was jumping out my chest when I finally reached the end of the wing to see the top three.

That was also the year Lewis made it onto the podium, after his heroic “through goes Hamilton” moment at Club corner. The crowd erupted at that move, and everyone was delighted regardless of who you were there to support.

Once I was down below waiting for the podium ceremony, a quick look around showed me just how many different fans for different teams there were. It was like looking inside a kaleidoscope from the variety of colours on display, from new merchandise to old.

After the celebrations were over, I walked a lap of the track, which was a cool experience in itself.

Getting to collect the rubber marbles left behind and seeing up close how wide or narrow parts of the circuit are. A definite recommendation if you do not need to rush off home!