Silverstone is the highlight of the year – let it be yours too by following some of these simple tips.
This year will be my fifth year attending the British Grand Prix at the famous Silverstone Circuit. In those years, I have learnt a lot of tricks – some of them the hard way. So to help you navigate this historic race, I thought of 5 tips that any race fan could use. Whether it’s your first race or fiftieth, these may be helpful!
(Photo Credits: Jessica Eccles)
1: PREPARE FOR ALL WEATHER
This may seem obvious, but it is Britain after all. One moment the sun will be shining, the next it will be stormy. Being organised and ready for all kinds of weather is certainly a must when attending the British Grand Prix.
This may include bringing ponchos, waterproofs and umbrellas for those rain spells. However, it can just as easily be hot and sunny. Suncream is a must – trust me. Even when it seems cloudy, the British sun will find a way to burn. Sunglasses and caps are a must to stay protected from the sun. It’s also an excellent excuse to buy some team merch from the stalls.
There is also a lot of walking at an F1 circuit, especially for those camping off-site. (30k steps per day!) Comfort is key, so make sure your shoes are worn in and can handle mud, gravel and grass.
Overall, removable layers and keeping a close eye on the weather app will be your best friend while at Silverstone.
(Photo Credits: Jessica Eccles)
2: MAKE THE MOST OF THURSDAY:
For those of you who have Thursday tickets, this is an incredible opportunity to familiarise yourself with the track, without the busy-ness of the rest of the weekend. Often, F1 and F2 drivers will do appearances throughout the day on the MainStage, and will do a lot of fan interactions. Use this quieter time to explore the Fan Zone and make the most of photo opportunities, before the weekend officially begins. It is also helpful to find exits and entrances, toilets and food vendors that you may use throughout the weekend. Merch stalls are open, so make the most of getting first dibs before they sell out. The entertainment is incredible at Silverstone – it feels like it’s very own festival. So stick around and enjoy the music on the MainStage. Don’t let your Thursday tickets go to waste, optimise them.
(Photo Credits: Jessica Eccles)
3: GET A RADIO:
Unsurprisingly, a Formula One track is a loud place. Whilst in Grandstands, there is commentary through speakers, sometimes this simply isn’t loud enough when the roar of the engines fly past. A radio can help resolve this, as Silverstone have their own radio frequency. Through this, you can hear what’s going on around the circuit, and not just on the track. Several years ago, Silverstone provided radios for around £10, that you could pre-book or buy during the weekend. However, last year American Express took over and gave out radios out for free to AMEX card holders. Later in the weekend, the remaining radios were given out to non-AMEX card holders, so don’t worry too much if this is also the case this year. The radios also tend to work in following years, so don’t toss yours away at the end of the race. Save yourself some money and keep them.
4: DOWNLOAD THE SILVERSTONE APP:
Silverstone have their own app, which you can use to add your tickets onto your phone. However, it has more uses than just this. The Silverstone App has a detailed timetable of what is going on around the track, including times for F1, 2, 3, Proche Mobil Cup and F1 Academy sessions. It includes a track map which can be helpful in navigating the track and knowing where exits and toilets are located. I would recommend downloading this before you arrive at the circuit, so that you can familiarise yourself with the details it shows.
(Photo Credits: Google Play)
5: BACK UPS AND CHARGERS:
Linking to my last tip, I would also screenshot any events or sessions that you would like to attend. Signal and WiFi at the British Grand Prix can be a hit or a miss. As it gets busier throughout the weekend, your signal is likely to get worse. Download anything you would need onto your phone before you arrive, so that you have them despite the signal. Moreover, portable battery chargers are a must when attending the race weekend. It may be 12 hours before you leave the track, so ensure that you bring spare chargers so that you can keep your phone charged throughout the day.
Those are my tips for the British Grand Prix – an amazing weekend that is much more than a race. Hopefully these tips will help you optimise your time and have a great time.
Formula Focus 
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