Formula 1 is one of the most glamorous sports in the world, and in this snapshot of attending the British Grand Prix, Kierney Chase explains why the racing is just the beginning of something that has become a destination festival for car and music fans-alike.
I’m in a sea of fans. All people I’ve got something in common with. People representing driver numbers and team colours proudly, passionately. No animosity, only love for a sport that bonds us. I’m looking towards a stage, surrounding screens providing the perfect view of the football. England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final match.
We’re running out of penalties to seal the deal. Months prior when I was excitedly booking my tickets for the British Grand Prix, never did I expect to be watching an England penalty shootout with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. I can report back, it was bloody fantastic.
Silverstone nurtures a special kind of magic that’s not just fast cars circling a track. It’s a festival of music, history, food, cars, knowledge, sport, comedy, hardwork and passion bringing together people from across the world. It’s for F1 fans new to the sport and not, for lovers of live music and petrolheads. It’s for people wanting to share a beautiful summer experience with the people they love most.
There are many ways to approach an F1 weekend away but flexibility is the key to maximising your DINKY experience. Whether you’re attending for a day or camping onsite for the entire weekend, the action is just as prevalent off track as it is on track. While planning can be helpful, there’s a special spontaneity that shouldn’t go unchecked due to the sheer volume of “stuff” happening throughout the weekend. You won’t get to see and do everything you want to, I can almost guarantee, so be open to immersing yourself in something new.
The evening entertainment included in your ticket is what takes this sport-filled weekend into the festival-style experience so many people love. And these aren’t ‘filler’ acts either. I’ve been fortunate enough to see Sam Fender, Pete Tong, Chase and Status and Idris Elba in just the past few years I’ve attended. And these number as some of the best concerts I’ve ever experienced, this is not an add-on, it’s an essential part of the experience.
Familiarise yourself with the event timetable and have an idea of what’s available across the weekend, but account for how vast the Silverstone site itself is. It takes approximately 90 minutes to walk the full track so there’s no quick nipping from one location to another. That’s also true when booking your tickets. You might not yet have a great geography of the circuit so it can be helpful to watch past race highlights to get a feel for where you might want to sit to best see the racing action.
Silverstone was built on a former WWII airfield so the site is entirely flat. Whilst that’s good for saving steps, it does make track visibility difficult, but not impossible, with a general admission ticket. Your choice of grandstand might be limited by budget but even so, there are fantastic options across the track.
My choice of grandstand is ‘Vale’ because you not only get an expansive view of the final three corners, but during the Grand Prix itself, it’s the only stand where fans are allowed onto the track to then watch the podium ceremony (you may even be lucky enough to pick up some tyre remnants as souvenirs too!).
On a practical note, we all need to get to Silverstone and there’s options for that too. It’s a separate ticket but bookable through the Silverstone site. When booking tickets, the site is great at showcasing add-ons such as Inner Track access.
As day-visitors, Silverstone’s Park and Ride sites are a great way to access the circuit. Researching the Park and Ride sites prior to booking or assigning your ticket helps ensure you choose one that’s on route from where you’re travelling. For example, I park at the Bicester site travelling from the South.
The Park and Ride buses are clearly marked and queuing efficiently organised so you can trust you’re in the right place and won’t be significantly delayed. By contrast, Silverstone’s General Car Parks aren’t a beneficial option from my experience. It’s expensive, bumper-to-bumper busy and not close enough to be considered accessible.
It’s described as on-site yet you could be parked as far as 30 minutes walk away from the closest entrance. As we’ve already established, you’re not going to be lacking the opportunity to clock up your step count at Silverstone so cut any unnecessary walking where you can.
There’s a fine line when packing for your day at the races as it’s equally as important to be prepared for any event as packing light for the most comfortable experience. Silverstone is notorious for its unpredictable weather so my essentials always include a poncho (great for rain and to be used as a picnic blanket), snacks/drinks (it’s a long day so having items you can pick on is convenient, cost effective and ensures you have something you’ll enjoy) and a battery pack (did I mention it’s a long day?!).
It’s worth noting you can’t use umbrellas in the grandstands, including the uncovered ones. For cases of both rain and shine, there’s limited shelter across the site so hats such as my Mercedes baseball cap, suncream and coats are definitely worth prioritising. I also recommend taking a change of clothes and shoes, all items you’re happy with getting muddy/dusty/wet.
You’re never far from an opportunity to buy merchandise so have an idea of how much you’re comfortable with spending. Don’t think you won’t be enticed by merch either, you’ll get FOMO if you’re not wearing your team/driver’s colours. Alternatively, you can buy ahead of time and arrive ready with your merchandise to save on cost but be aware that Silverstone will carry exclusive items only available on site.
You may be looking to book a day or weekend to watch the F1 with your partner, but you’ll take far more away from your experience than just the racing. With the additional freedom that comes with the DINKY lifestyle, there isn’t a better time to enjoy and maximise what this event has to offer. The only downside is there’s currently 22 races on the F1 calendar and once you go to one – you’ll want to go to them all!
