'I lived the A-list celebrity life at the F1 – here's the Silverstone secrets'
Lando Norris won his first British Grand Prix in front of thousands of soaked fans at Silverstone on Sunday – but the F1 isn't all about the racing this year.
Behind-the-scenes there's a lot more going on, and that's exactly what Mirror man Harry Rutter found out during a days-long, celebrity-packed VIP experience at the famous racetrack nestled near its tiny Northamptonshire village.
With performances from Seventeen Going Under hitmaker Sam Fender, rockers Blossoms, Little Mix sensation Jade Thirlwall and recent Glastonbury sensation Raye, there's clearly something for everyone over the Formula 1 weekend.
Our jam-packed schedule started on the Thursday, with a warm welcome at the official backstage provider for this year's grand prix, Bluebird. With instant behind-the-scenes privileges came an exciting moment for our group as Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc casually cycled past as he prepared for Friday's round of free practice events.
Leclerc, who was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2022, acknowledged us and was shortly followed by Red Bull's Liam Lawson, who now races for the Christian Horner-fronted team's second unit, the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.
Also dropping by Bluebird was F1 commentator and Sky Sports star David Croft, known to TV viewers as Crofty. Speaking to the Mirror he explained how nice it was to relax before being thrown into work over the weekend. He too was gearing up for a night of music before needing to jump on the microphone ahead of Sunday's big race.
"It's lights out... and away we Land-ooo," he says in a personal video filmed for me, pre-emptively hinting at a big year for Norris, or maybe even predicting his win. Love Island's season five-star Michael Griffiths was also spotted enjoying Bluebird's amenities, getting an oiled hand massage from one of the staff before hitting the free bar.
All-inclusive offerings included pricey bottles of Moey and Chandon champagne, giving the exclusive guests the full Formula 1 experience. Unlimited free Red Bull was also on the cards, with Heineken beers available as well across the extensive menu.
Shuttle buses and black London taxis took us across the mammoth Silverstone site, taking us to Escapade for dinner. The lavish location boasts homes costing over £2million for the uberwealthy to enjoy the calendar of races from a private balcony.
With a £150 special F1 menu on offer from their main guest 'club house', we were treated to the ultimate meal that the stars tuck into before watching the cars go by.
We were transported to the paddock next where we experienced everything the rich and famous can, right behind the pit wall. But it wasn't just celebrities walking around, it was the drivers too – shockingly.
We bumped right into Lewis Hamilton, sporting his Ferrari race suit following his transition from Mercedes. Moments later we saw Lando Norris doing some press interviews through the glass at McLaren's hospitality.
Sky Sports were live on-air as we watched TV crews scramble to keep the programme running, along with dozens of international outlets reporting from the garages. Normal folk like me would never normally see this kind of behind-the-scenes action, without shelling out thousands on paddock passes of course.
Blossoms kicked off Thursday night's entertainment with guitar-driven melodic hits, including Charlemagne, Your Girlfriend, and recent fan-favourite Gary. Sam Fender took to the stage and cranked things up a notch for the roaring crowd, performing a set of classic hits such as Seventeen Going Under, People Watching and Hypersonic Missiles to close out night one at Silverstone in style.
It was the next day's tour of the paddock where we bumped into more famous faces, including Williams driver Carlos Sainz, followed by RB's Liam Lawson – again. Also wondering around was Maura Higgins, as well as Gordon Ramsay. Joined by his wife and daughter, the TV chef was hosting his own VIP restaurant for paddock passers.
Friday night saw Raye take to the stage as the Mirror saw Hamilton once again appear – but this time he was side of stage, cheering on the singer amid swirling romance rumours. He watched her entire set, clapping from the sidelines and soaking up the atmosphere following the hitmaker's impressive set at Glastonbury Festival.
She closed the show with an unforgettable performance, playing a catalogue of hits such as Prada and Escapism – finishing off two days of wild entertainment even before the racing had begun in a festival-like extravaganza for ticker holders.
Commenting on the action away from the track Silverstone's chief commercial officer Nick Read told the Mirror: "This year, Silverstone is proud to showcase the best of British talent, bringing together iconic artists as we celebrate Formula 1's 75th anniversary as we continue to up our game.
"Our all-British music lineup reflects our commitment to delivering world-class entertainment that resonates with fans both on and off the track. We are delighted to welcome JADE, Mabel, Blossoms Idris, Mike Skinner, Sub Focus, Eats Everything and DJ Luck & MC Neat to this year's lineup.
"It's a testament to the rich heritage of British motorsport and music that Silverstone has developed since hosting its first Formula 1 British Grand Prix 75 years ago, and we're super excited to honour this milestone with an unforgettable festival experience."
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