Introduction
We all know Grand Prix tickets are expensive, so it can be incredibly hard to experience the raw thrill of Formula One with our own eyes and ears- instead of watching it on a TV screen which can make your eyes go square.
On Wednesday 2nd of June 2021, I finally visited the Silverstone Interactive Museum. The tickets were a gift from my parents in the Christmas of 2020, and were initially for April but our plans were pushed back due to Covid-19 and rescheduled for a month later. I can honestly say it was not easy- the communication with the team was poor because many people in the office seemed to have been sent home from their workplace. The website was even taking new bookings before we were contacted about a refund or a reschedule, and when we eventually received a response we were told to rebook the visit ourselves (with a code which would make it free- as if we had been refunded for the previous date and paid for the new one) rather than them handling it their end.
Like many young fans I have not had the opportunity to attend a Grand Prix weekend before, and the closest I have come is visiting the Silverstone Interactive Museum which is a short walk away from Brooklands and Luffield. To zoom back out, the Silverstone circuit is situated near the villages Silverstone and Whittlebury in England, Northamptonshire, and was formerly a bomber station during World War Two called RAF Silverstone. The Silverstone Interactive Museum was converted from one of the old war hangars which held planes.
Though the Silverstone Museum opened its doors in 2019, the BRDC (British Drivers’ Racing Club) had first suggested the idea of such a location in 1971. More cemented ideas were put in place in 2012 and with the help of the National Lottery Heritage fund, it ‘officially’ opened seven years later in the presence of F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and Prince Harry, who along a tour met Alex Albon, George Russell, Damon Hill and Martin Brundle. Everyone was eager to express their amazement and awe of the transformation (especially Prince Harry, who had visited the building two years prior). The opening was a major success- their presence, alongside the attendance of local school children, opened people’s eyes to the world of motorsports and perhaps even kickstarted the new generation of racing fans, an aspect Lewis Hamilton was keen to press.
I can absolutely agree with their reactions. My day was absolutely amazing, and I know I had a smile on my face from the entrance till I returned home (pretty tired, but still in awe.)
With a change to the British Grand Prix weekend of 2021, the introduction of sprint qualifying, let’s take a walk through Silverstone’s history first.
Walking In...
It’s always nice not to have a queue to wait in, so after having a quick temperature check outside the doors, we were through into the reception area. We got presented with wristbands to wear throughout our visit (which I have kept, and proudly sits next to my McLaren driver cards) and a map to aid us in the building. The lower floor consists of the cafe and the shop, with a set of stairs in the centre leading up to the museum entrance.
These probably won’t be the first things you’d spot however- there’s a flying Mercedes hanging from the ceiling. It’s certainly a stunning example and angle for a Silver Arrow, but I could not just help thinking that it was meme material. By ascending the stairs you can stand at the perfect height to get a photo of yourself positioned next to it. Unfortunately I’m not a natural poser so I won’t be sharing mine!
At the top of the stairs there’s a large waiting area with a full-length glass window looking out onto the Silverstone Circuit. It’s that close! I was lucky enough to go on a gorgeously sunny day so my pictures came out beautifully. Away from the view, a volunteer met us and handed each of us a touchscreen pen to use throughout our visit (it is an interactive museum after all) and then directed us through to a room with animation displays on the walls. I have epilepsy which is photo-sensitive, so after enquiring I made the decision to skip this part, but if you’re in a similar situation to me it’s obviously up to you to decide. There’s a side door if you want to exit during the ‘show’.
All the doors open into the main upper space which is generally dark, but the displays are lit. Walking around initially, you learn about the circuit- the names of the corners, where they are, and the history behind them. If you’re a technical buff, you can discover the speed and gears the drivers use around different sections of the circuit.
You can also walk along a timeline of the history of the circuit. For many years, the land it’s built on was used for farming, but in 1942 the Air Ministry marked it as a new airbase: RAF Silverstone. After 6 years of war, in 1948 the Royal Automobile Club leased the roads from the Air Ministry for motor racing, and 4 years later the BRDC began leasing too, not just for racing but farming still. It wasn’t until the 1990s that Silverstone became completely committed to racing.
Best Bits...
Of course there are plenty of cars at the museum, donated and loaned by drivers and teams. There’s an old Cooper which certainly would not withstand the pressures of modern Formula One, let alone keep up with the cars. The shape, the material, and the safety measures are completely different to the advanced physics teams use now. F1 has visibly progressed. Nearby there’s a car to sit in and have a photo taken (of course!) which can be printed out at the shop.
Other stunning cars include:
Force India VJM06- A car from the 2013 season with a pretty memorable livery (remember that orange, green and white?). It was used by Paul Di Resta and Adrian Sutil, and was designed and manufactured in the Silverstone HQ. The team (formerly Racing Point) remains the closest to the British circuit.
Red Bull-Renault RB6- Wow, remember when these guys were partners? This car is loaned by Mark Webber, who finished 3rd in Adrian Newey’s 2010 challenger that year, a car which won the constructor’s.
McLaren-Mercedes MP4/15- This one is also designed by Adrian Newey! This was McLaren’s 2000 challenger driven by David Coulthard, and their first win that season was claimed at Silverstone.
Racing Point RP19- On loan from Aston Martin F1, this car was raced in 2019 by Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll. However, the car is presented in the 2020 British GP livery, and if you take a closer look at the wing mirrors there are blue hearts with the NHS logo within them.
Alpine- Let’s agree this is a gorgeous livery, and under a spotlight it looks even better. This one lies next to the Racing Point.
For obvious reasons many of the items are enclosed in glass cases to retain their superb condition and keep them safe. Many helmets in the array they display at the museum are on loan. One you may remember is Lando Norris’ 2020 British GP helmet, designed and kindly on loan by Eva Muttram, the six-year old who won Lando’s design competition. Speaking about the winning white helmet with hearts and Lando’s logo on, the British McLaren driver said “I just went with something that reminded me of when I was young”, suggesting Lando has been interested in graphic design for a long time as he is known to enjoy creating helmet patterns.
This isn’t the only one…
Michael Schumacher’s 2000 racing helmet- This was worn when Schumacher grabbed his third World Championship in F1, and was a drastic change from the previous white and blue design. The 2000 red was reflective of Ferrari but still marked his origins with the colours of the German flag at the rear.
Mark Webber’s 2010 racing helmet- Mark Webber won the race at Silverstone in 2010 and then two years later in 2012. He was clearly a member of Red Bull that year, with his helmet’s colour scheme blue, red and yellow- with the Red Bull logo front and centre.
Sir Lewis Hamilton’s 2019 racing helmet- This important piece of memorabilia was presented by the champion upon his visit for the museum’s official opening. It’s a symbol of his journey- there are stars for each of the championships he had accumulated up until that point, and the famous phrase “Still I Rise” is quoted from Maya Angelou’s beautiful poem about black people battling a white-dominated society. There’s also a replica of Mercedes’ black race gear.
Barry Sheene’s motorcycle racing helmet- If this isn’t brilliant, I don’t know what is! Sheene clearly had some interesting priorities as like many of his helmets, this example from 1978 had a hole drilled through the front for easy smoking!
Remember, the museum is interactive, and there are plenty of ways to get involved! If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be part of the pit crew, you can tackle a pit stop by using a wheel gun to tighten the nuts which would be on a car. Even Prince Harry and Lewis Hamilton had a go upon their visit, and to the champion’s dismay Prince Harry had a quicker time!
Try to be a commentator- For those aspiring to be the voice of F1 like the late and great Murray Walker, there’s a microphone for you to fulfill your dreams and commentate on some of motorsports' most dramatic moments! I’m certainly not a natural, and my voice sounds terrible on recording, but it was fun nonetheless.
Could you be an RAF pilot?- The museum really emphasises Silverstone’s WW2 history, and there’s a plane simulator to have fun in and a fake gun to shoot objects in the sky. Let me tell you, I was absolutely devastated when my dad managed to shoot more objects in the time frame than me.
One of the best moments of my visit was walking part of the track (though it was behind barriers), and I was lucky enough that on the day there were tour cars cruising round the track. I got some great shots and clips through the gaps in the fence of the vehicles going through Brooklands and Luffield. The walk also lets you walk on an old track route. Bridge, named after the vehicle bridge above (unsurprisingly) was introduced in 1991, and after several accidents Bridge was removed from the layout in 2010 when MotoGP riders stated their refusal to race it as there was no run-off.
Now by Bridge there is a Wall of Fame and a beautiful tribute to Lewis Hamilton. There are perhaps hundreds of fans’ names etched onto the wall in a golden colour, and they all face a magnificent mural of Lewis, who has his Mercedes suit on with the British flag behind him. This is definitely something to appreciate before getting a picture- the artists’ talent is exceptional, and the mural captures Lewis’ achievements and his journey.
However...
This is a day-trip I whole-heartedly recommend, but if I’m going to be informative, I have to put this section in.
I will admit I’m a fussy eater, but the cafe doesn’t have the largest selection of food, so if you’re like me I would arrive prepared.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, we also had issues contacting the museum to rearrange the date of our visit, though I’m sure communication has since improved as restrictions have been lifted.
***
Do I recommend the Silverstone Experience? Yes. Tickets are from just £12 per person and for what you see, learn and can participate in, it is definitely worth the money. It’s also a chance to absorb some of the beautiful Silverstone track without having to pay those weighty prices for a place in the grandstands.
The 2021 weekend will mark a new stage in Silverstone’s history by hosting a brand new weekend format with the F1 sprint. In a few years, the museum may have something to remember the occasion by.
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