Formula 1 British Grand Prix Hospitality Packages, VIP Tickets & Events

Silverstone. Home to the British Grand Prix and the greatest venue in British motorsport. Nothing quite beats a race day at Silverstone, and the British Grand Prix weekend is one of the highlights of our sporting calendar.

If you have ever wanted to go to Silverstone, perhaps to see Lewis Hamilton lead around the final corner of the track to win the British Grand Prix, then this article is for you. We are going to provide you with a complete guide to this famous racetrack, looking at its history, some fast facts, why you might want to go to Silverstone, and the various options you have from general admission tickets to the extensive hospitality packages. You’ll be able to plan your whole weekend.

A brief history of Silverstone

Between 1943-46, the site of the Silverstone circuit was an RAF bomber station – RAF Silverstone. There were three runways at the base, in a triangle, which still lie within the outline of the current track.

After the war, the site was deserted, which prompted a group of locals to congregate there to race around the airfield. During the first race, someone ran over and killed a sheep, and so the informal race became known as the Mutton Grand Prix.

In 1948, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) took out a lease on the airfield and began to create a more formal race track, originally following the course of the runways with hairpin corners in between. They held the first British Grand Prix that year, and in 1950, King George VI attended the race – the only time a monarch has attended a motor race in the UK.

They developed the course over the next few years: in 1953, they moved the starting line to the straight line between Woodcote Corner and Copse Corner. This would be the basic outline for the track for nearly 40 years. While not as fast as today, the races back then were not exactly competed at a slow speed – Giuseppe Farina became the first driver to complete a lap averaging over 100mph in 1953.

Between 1955 and 1964, they alternated the British Grand Prix between Silverstone and Aintree, but Silverstone still hosted the International Trophy, which Stirling Moss won in 1956.

The British Grand Prix in 1960 will always be remembered as the race that Graham Hill lost – having stalled on the start line he set off in last place, but worked his way through the field to take the lead, only to have his brakes fail and spin off the track at Copse Corner.

Entering the modern era of racing

By the early 70s, average speeds for the races around the Silverstone circuit had risen to around 130mph. This may have inadvertently led to the biggest crash ever on a British racing circuit in 1973 – miraculously, only one driver was injured in the nine car pile up. The crash led to a change in the layout of the track, with an extra chicane added at Woodcote.

In the late 70s, the British Motorcycle Grand Prix was being held on the Silverstone circuit, as well as the Silverstone Six-Hours, the British Touring Car Championship, the World Sportscar Championship and the Sidecar World Championship.

Throughout the 80s, more races were taking place on Silverstone circuit, and the speeds in the British Grand Prix continued to rise (barring the 1988 race, when Ayrton Senna won with an average speed of 124mph due to heavy rain – some classic English weather).

In 1998, the FIA decided that all Formula One grids should be on a straight line – to comply with this, the RAC moved the start line forward, but crucially not the finish line. As a result, the British Grand Prix that year was only technically 59.95 laps, rather than 60. When the leader, Michael Schumacher, was issued with a 10-second penalty two laps from the finish, his team weren’t sure whether this penalty would be added to his time at the end of the race, or whether it was a stop-and-go penalty. Just to be sure, as Schumacher came down the start/finish straight on his final lap, they called him into the pits to serve a stop-and-go. However, the Ferrari pit was located between the finish and the start line, so in going to the pit, the car inadvertently crossed the finish line!

The New Millenium and a Battle for the British Grand Prix

The FIA decided to move the British Grand Prix to April in 2000, to have it over Easter weekend. This was a huge mistake, as any Brit would be able to tell you! It rained for the three weeks running up to the event, rendering the car parks in the area useless. Many fans couldn’t get there to watch.

Later that year, the first American Le Man Series race to be held outside North America took place on the Silverstone circuit, and the Le Mans Prototypes returned in 2004. Silverstone retained its place as a major hub in the world of motorsport.

The rise of Lewis Hamilton in the late 00s brought with it a huge increase in the popularity of Formula One in the UK. Ticket demand for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 2007 was as high as it had been since the ‘Mansell Mania’ of the late 80s. However, in 2010, the race was due to move to Donington Park.

This never happened as they ended up having funding issues, so Silverstone kept its grip on the flagship event in UK racing. In 2019, Lewis Hamilton won his sixth British Grand Prix at Silverstone, breaking a 52-year record set by Jim Clark.

The current deal for Silverstone to host the British Grand Prix expires in 2027, after which no one knows where it will take place – but many hope that Silverstone will strike up another deal to keep it there, at the home of UK racing.

Silverstone – Fast Facts

• Silverstone has a number of different layouts: the main three are the National Circuit (including the Wellington Straight), the Bridge Grand Prix Circuit and the Arena Grand Prix circuit, which includes driving past the new Arena section.
• The start/finish straight was renamed The Hamilton Straight, after Lewis Hamilton, in 2020 after he won his seventh world title.
• Max Verstappen holds the record for the fastest lap ever recorded on the new Arena Grand Prix Circuit, with a lap time of 1:27.097 in 2020.

Why go to Silverstone?

To put it simply, Silverstone is one of the most iconic venues in UK sport. Whether you go to watch the British GP or not, you’ll witness some full-throttle racing on the track. With grandstands dotted about the circuit and TV screens throughout, you won’t miss a second of the action, whether it’s on the pit lane or the finishing straight.

If you’re a fan of sport, going to Silverstone should be on your bucket list. It’s something very different to most other sporting occasions and a true thrill of the senses. 

What are the facilities like?

Silverstone has been very good at keeping up with the times. The ‘fan experience’ when you go to watch an event there really is top notch. Depending on what sort of ticket you buy and whether you go for the whole weekend, you might be able to experience a pit lane walk, visit the F1 fanzone (with bungee trampolines and segways), wander around the circuit, watch some live music and enjoy a wide selection of food and drink from the many vendors onsite.

BrewDog have a bar there, plus there is a grill restaurant and a coffee house that is open all year round. Silverstone is well prepared for thousands of visitors.

What are the premium tickets, VIP and Hospitality options?

Like any modern sporting venue, Silverstone is also well equipped for people that want to make a little bit more of their experience. They offer a range of packages to suit any need, and with general admission tickets being so difficult to come by (they usually sell out very quickly), hospitality packages are a great way for people to guarantee tickets to the British Grand Prix weekend.

Our three favourite packages include the Trackside package, which grants you access to the Trackside lounge for the entirety of the day, as well as complimentary street food, a vibrant bar with inclusive drinks and inner track access.

Then there is the Ignition hospitality package, which will grant you access to the Ignition Club in the grandstand overlooking the six racing corners – you won’t miss a second of the action. The premium bar there also has complimentary Champagne flowing throughout the day, and the finest British cuisine available all day.

The most indulgent package, though, is the Fusion hospitality. With this you’ll have access to the vibrant garden terrace at Vale, with the option of grandstand viewing as well. Not only that, but there will be a celebrity compere to guide you through the day, a live DJ and luxury vehicle displays. You’ll be in the best spots to truly experience a day you’ll never forget.

How to get to Silverstone

Silverstone is located right in the heart of England, so is pretty accessible from most parts of the UK. If you are travelling by car, travel along the M40 before joining the A43 and follow the signs.

Public transport is a little more tricky – the closest train station in Wolverton, is 10 miles away, so you will need a taxi or bus from there. Local buses do run from around the local area, but services get very busy for large events.

There is a helipad if you want to bring your helicopter, just remember to book it in via the Silverstone website…

What is the area around Silverstone like?

Like most F1 tracks, Silverstone is a long way from major settlements. It’s near the small village of Silverstone, Northamptonshire, and is around 5 miles away from Towcester. The fact that it is so open around there has made it much easier to expand the venue, but does mean that if you go to visit, there isn’t much there other than Silverstone itself and the nice surrounding countryside.

How can I get tickets to the British Grand Prix?

There’s no getting around it; securing general admission tickets for the British Grand Prix is difficult. Even with over 400,000 tickets available over the weekend, they tend to sell out very quickly. You can buy these directly from the Silverstone website, but you’ll need to be quick to get tickets, especially for the Sunday.

If you are interested in purchasing one of the hospitality packages, though, we can help. Get in touch with us at [email protected] and we will have you find the best package for you and your guests.

Best event at Silverstone

There is no doubt here at all, it is the British Grand Prix. One of the highlights of the UK sporting calendar, which is always fun and exciting.

Most niche event at Silverstone

One of the more eclectic events at Silverstone is the Silverstone Festival. Live music, entertainment for the whole family and on-track displays and races. It’s a really fun event that is well worth checking out.

Cost

The cost of tickets at Silverstone will vary a lot from event to event. If you are interested in the British GP, you will be looking at prices from around £129 for a one-day ticket and around £1000 for a weekend ticket. Hospitality packages start from £349 at entry level, for the practice sessions.

Type of events

As well as a wide range of motorsport, Silverstone hosts running events and music concerts.

Top Tip for visiting Silverstone

Our top tip for watching events at Silverstone is to make sure you see everything

you can and soak it all up. Its not often you’ll be this close to such high-performance vehicles. Your best bet is to get there early and seek out the prime spots, making sure you can take in all the high-speed action around every corner.