Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit Map & Guide
The oldest and first Grand Prix in Formula One history, Silverstone has hosted the British Grand Prix unbroken since 1987, alternating with the Brands Hatch and Aintree circuits as the British Grand Prix between 1955-86. Located on a World War II airfield in Northamptonshire, the Silverstone circuit has undergone many changes over its history but has maintained its high-speed nature as one of the driver’s favourites. The grandstands are consistently packed at Silverstone, both local and international fans providing an electric atmosphere throughout the race weekend. British F1 fans are knowledgeable and passionate, and expect plenty of support for local heroes George Russell, Lando Norris and an increase in the colour red to support Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari.
SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT KEY FACTS.
KEY FACTS.
- Circuit Length – 5.89km
- Number of Laps - 52
- Race Distance – 306.19km
- Max Speed – 334km/h
SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT KEY FACTS.
KEY INFORMATION.
- Average Temperature in July – 22c
- Currency – GBP
- Closest Airport – London Luton
- Language – English
- Time Zone – GMT
SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT KEY FACTS.
GRANDSTANDS.
INTERNATIONAL PIT
The most popular stand on the track and for good reason – the International Pit Grandstand is in the newest complex of the revamped Silverstone circuit. Providing views you would expect from a start/finish straight, the International Pit Grandstand’s atmosphere all weekend long is a particular highlight. Covered from the elements with multiple large screens, you will be able to soak in all the pre-race build up as well as views of the podium from your seats. An added bonus of the Silverstone track is the post-race track invasion – this grandstand giving you the closest point to the track to catch the podium from the grid.
ABBEY
Due to the track tweaks in 2011, Abbey corner is now turn 1 at Silverstone and is a corner that has undergone significant changes. What was once a low-speed chicane, Abbey is now a fast right hand corner. From your seats you will have great views of the start/finish straight as well as the flat-out entry into Abbey corner. Lap 1 itself is a highlight from the Abbey Grandstand as the cars jostle for position from the grid into the short run into turn one. There is a large amount of run off on corner exit, meaning that drivers often try braver moves into this corner. Abbey is a covered grandstand and there is also a large screen present just opposite. The tricky pit exit – feeding directly onto the racing line of turn two – is also visible from your seats at Abbey.
THE VIEW, FARM CURVE, VILLAGE A-B
A set of four grandstands in the opening corners of the lap, you will have an excellent view – particularly on the opening lap – of the cars in close quarters vying for position. This section of track is aptly known as The Loop – with multiple corners in close succession preceding the Wellington Straight. You will have plenty of photo opportunities throughout the weekend, as the cars do pass by at low speed. These corners also provide overtaking chances, with lap one a particular highlight. There is also a large screen visible from these seats.
LUFFIELD A-B, WOODCOTE A-B
The Luffield and Woodcote are a set of four grandstands on the apex and exit of the slow Luffield corner and will give you views of multiple corners in this section of track. As the cars exit the first DRS zone on the Wellington straight you will often see the cars in close quarters head toward Luffield from your seats. These stands are covered and are sat close to the track, ensuring you will have some great photo opportunities of the cars at slow speed in this long corner and exit onto what was formerly the pit straight for Formula One races. As with most other stands, there is a big screen visible from the seats.
NATIONAL PITS STRAIGHT
On what used to be the main straight at Silverstone, the National Pits Straight grandstand provide views of F1 cars at full speed before they navigate the flat-out right handed Copse corner. While not a DRS zone due to it being a short straight, it is a popular overtaking spot as the cars will get close to each other on the exit of Luffield onto the straight. While lap one and safety car restarts are when you will see the cars in closest combat here, never rule out some late race drama such as Lewis Hamilton’s overtake on Charles Leclerc for the lead in the 2021 British Grand Prix.
COPSE A-B-C
Perched on the outside of one of the most exciting corners on the track, the Copse grandstands are sat back due to the large run off at Copse corner. Don’t let this deter you however, as it is a popular overtaking spot for the brave with a good run out of the National Pits Straight. Your seats at Copse provide excellent views of the cars flying toward you at full speed before flicking right through Copse and into the Maggotts and Becketts corners. In years past, these seats at Copse give birds-eye views of incidents and overtakes such as Hamilton and Verstappen’s infamous clash in 2021, and Hamilton’s late race pass on Leclerc for the lead in the same race.
CLUB SILVERSTONE, BECKETTS
A little back from the track due to the large amount of grass and run off in the Maggotts and Becketts corners, Club Silverstone and Becketts grandstands will give you a lengthy view of the cars through these fast corners. Mostly flat out and thanks to the airfield nature – you will be able to see the cars through these corners for around 10-15 seconds every time they pass, as opposed to a quick glimpse on a straight or smaller corner. Thanks to the airfield-flat nature of the circuit, the views from Club Silverstone and Becketts are unobstructed from natural elevation – meaning you will be moments away from an excellent photo opportunity when you hear the cars approach. While not a traditional overtaking spot, if seeing the cars at their aerodynamic best is what you are after, these seats are unrivalled.
VALE
Just down the track from the Stowe Grandstands is the single Vale Grandstand. Here you will have excellent views of the cars exiting Stowe corner and heading downhill into the last three corners of the lap. During the race there will often be cars side-by-side going through the exit of Stowe as there is a large run-off area, and has also been the scene of plenty of incidents over the years. With a screen opposite you will not miss a minute of the action, and will also have views of the fast pit-entry. There is a general admission hill between the Vale and Stowe Grandstands, meaning the atmosphere in this section is electric all weekend long.
CLUB A/CLUB CORNER
Situated on the apex of the final corner, Club Corner Grandstands provides a great variety of track views. To the left of your seats is the main straight, and on the right is the final section of corners before the start/finish line. Here you will have plenty of photo opportunities as the cars will pass you at a lower speed that an out and out straight. From the Club Grandstands you will also be able to catch pitlane action and will have some of the closest access to enter the track for the post-race celebrations. Stowe is a covered grandstand – handy for the fickle Silverstone weather – as well as a giant screen visible from your seats.
STOWE A-B-C
Sat at the end of the fast Hangar Straight, the Stowe Grandstands offer some very good views of a fast section of track. After the cars navigate the Maggots-Becketts-Chapel corners, they fly onto the back straight which is also a DRS zone. With a front-on view of the cars, these seats at the fast right hander Stowe corner will also provide plenty of photo opportunities as the cars come past and drive downhill into the final section of corners of the lap. As it is at the end of a long straight and DRS zone, overtakes are common at Stowe. While the seats are uncovered, there is a giant screen visible from the stands.