Track map / aerial image coming soon
Track Info
| Location | Silverstone, Northamptonshire, England |
| Type | Permanent Road Course |
| Length | 5.891 km (3.661 miles) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Capacity | ~150,000 |
| Opened | 1948 (hosted the first-ever F1 World Championship race in 1950) |
Track Characteristics
Silverstone is the birthplace of Formula 1. The very first World Championship Grand Prix was held here on May 13, 1950, and the circuit has been a permanent fixture on the calendar ever since. Built on the site of a former World War II bomber airfield, the track retains its high-speed character despite numerous modifications over the decades. Silverstone is one of the fastest circuits in F1, with some of the most demanding high-speed corners in the sport.
The Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex is one of the most celebrated sequences of corners in all of motorsport. This high-speed, multi-directional series of turns is taken at enormous speed and demands absolute precision and bravery. Getting through Maggotts-Becketts cleanly is essential for a competitive lap time, and the visual spectacle of F1 cars snaking through this section at over 250 km/h is breathtaking.
Copse, Stowe, and the Arena section added in 2010 provide a mix of high-speed and lower-speed challenges. The Wellington Straight and Hangar Straight offer DRS overtaking zones. Silverstone's open and exposed location means wind is always a factor, with gusts capable of significantly affecting car balance through the fast corners. British weather adds another layer of unpredictability - rain can arrive at one end of the circuit while the other end remains dry.
Getting There
| Nearest Airport | London Luton Airport (LTN) is about 75 km south. Birmingham Airport (BHX) is about 80 km northwest. London Heathrow (LHR) is roughly 120 km south. |
| Nearest City | Northampton (about 25 km south) and Milton Keynes (about 25 km east). London is approximately 120 km to the southeast. |
2026 Event Info
| Race Name | British Grand Prix |
| Round | 9 of 22 |
| Sprint Weekend | Yes |
| TV | Apple TV |
Track Record
| Lap Record | 1:27.097 |
| Record Holder | Max Verstappen (Red Bull, 2020) |
Notable Past Races
- 2024: Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix for a record-extending ninth time, ending a 945-day winless streak. The emotional victory came in his final season with Mercedes before moving to Ferrari.
- 2021: Hamilton and Verstappen collided at Copse on the opening lap, sending Verstappen into the barriers at high speed. Hamilton recovered from a 10-second penalty to win in front of his home crowd, one of the most controversial races in modern F1.
- 2008: Lewis Hamilton won by over a minute in torrential rain, lapping the field with a performance so dominant it has become one of the defining drives of his career.
- 1987: Nigel Mansell chased down teammate Nelson Piquet and passed him with a legendary dummy move into Stowe corner. The crowd erupted in what remains one of the most celebrated British sporting moments.
- 1950: The very first Formula 1 World Championship race was held at Silverstone on May 13, 1950. Giuseppe Farina won, driving an Alfa Romeo 158.
Track Facts
- Silverstone hosted the first-ever Formula 1 World Championship race on May 13, 1950, making it the birthplace of F1.
- The circuit was built on the site of RAF Silverstone, a World War II bomber base. Some of the original runway perimeter roads still form part of the layout.
- Lewis Hamilton holds the record for most British Grand Prix victories with nine wins.
- Silverstone is located in the heart of "Motorsport Valley" - the region of England where seven of the ten F1 teams have their headquarters.
- The Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex is consistently voted by drivers as one of the top three corner sequences in Formula 1.
Get Tickets
Tickets available at silverstone.co.uk