REVIEW | 75 years of Formula 1 at Silverstone Museum
A circuit fit for a King (and Queen)
An estimated 150,000 spectators attended the first Formula One World Championship at Silverstone Circuit in 1950 – a record crowd for the track. So prestigious was the occasion that even the King and Queen turned up. To this day, it remains the one and only time a reigning monarch has been present at a motor race in the UK. Princess Elizabeth II was there too.
Back then, the facilities were rudimentary, even for the V-VIPs. The royal box was cobbled together using scaffolding, with a fabric roof to provide shelter from the sunshine or rain, while race control had to occupy a lowly cowshed. The toilets, well, they hadn’t been built yet, and hay bales were used as safety barriers –not bad for absorbing impact, but quick to go up in flames. This was post-war Britain, though, and a sense that the worst was over prevailed. It was time to go racing; a wild new era of motorsport had arrived.
Silverstone’s evolution over the years
In its evolution from that crumbling wartime airfield, Silverstone has applied more than a lick of paint to smarten up its act. Overnight accommodation back in 1950, for example, was limited to a tent. Or perhaps, the back seat of a car. But now, you can get your shut-eye a few metres from the hallowed track. Rooms at the Hilton hotel offer views straight out onto the pit, while swanky residences, which range from one to four-bedders, that overlook Copse, Maggotts, and Becketts, are designed to allow you to watch the racing from the comfort of your own bed.
With a growing global fanbase – 826.5 million and counting, over 40% of which is female – the pressure for Silverstone to remain the home of the British Grand Prix has been, to put it lightly, immense.
Formula One World Championship celebrates 75th anniversary
To learn about the pivotal happenings that have taken place there, a visit to Silverstone Museum, which is located within the track perimeter, is a must, and to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Formula One World Championship, a new exhibition tells the story of the sport. A formidable task that took more than six months to complete, it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime retrospective. Many of the remarkable cars, artefacts and memorabilia have never been on public display – including letters from Enzo Ferrari as well as the 1989 Leyton House March CG891– and who knows if, or when, there will be a chance to see them again.
Vehicles from each decade since that first race in 1950 illustrate the advancements that have been made, as well as explore significant moments and personalities. From Nigel Mansell's Renault FW14B, to the legendary Lotus 72, the assembly is a showcase of the teams, the eras and the owners, from then to now.
“It’s a really nice opportunity for us to give people a chance to get up close to the cars, which doesn’t happen very often in motorsport, especially Formula 1,” says Stephanie Sykes-Dugmore, head of collections and research.
The temptation to climb into them is considerable – I’d have liked to try Jack Brabham’s BT20 for size – but this is a look but don’t touch situation. To keep things fresh, new vehicles will be joining the assembly; the papaya MCL34 that Lando Norris drove in his first Grand Prix is set to arrive next. Don’t worry about missing out, though; the purchase of a day ticket entitles you to free return visits for the next 12 months.
A rich collection - Trophies & Female contributions
Away from the motors is a rich collection of artefacts that highlight the more human element of the sport. From trophies to lucky charms, letters and sign-on sheets (you thought trying to decipher doctors' handwriting was difficult), they are cleverly curated to give the sport overall context.
The display also pulls focus on female contributions. Dedicating space to Maria Grazia ‘Lella’ Lombardi, the first woman to score a World Championship point, as well as contemporary characters such as the managing director of F1 Academy, Susie Wolff, it is important to show that women deserve their place not just in F1, but on any grid.
Race suits galore
The race suits, for me, possess a particular curiosity. Empty shells once worn by a cast of incredible drivers, many of whom are long since gone, they are, in a sense, quite ghostly. They starkly illustrate the evolution of safety in the sport, too. In the fifties, drivers wore pretty much anything they fancied, but today the fire-resistant NASA-spec jumpsuits are a nonnegotiable replacement of the bow ties and polo shirts, work jackets and slacks.
Located in the main collection, a race suit that belonged to Desiré Wilson shows telling details of the nature of the sport – her blood group is hand-stitched on the breast pocket, and the fire-proof material has been tailored to her frame. Desiré rose to fame in 1980 when she became the only woman in history to win a Formula 1 race, (albeit in a British Championship). “Women like Desiré were just doing what they love,” says Stephanie, “the reasons they go racing are no different to men. Everyone wants to win.”
Getting involved - things to do beyond the collection
A museum devoted to motorsport wouldn’t be doing its job properly if there wasn’t an opportunity, or two, to road test some of the roles within a team you can play. From taking part in a pit-stop to operating a wind tunnel and finding out what it takes to commentate a GP, there’s also a state-of-the-art Sim Suite. All moody lit and ultra-mod, it gives you the chance to drive a choice of open and closed wheel cars around the iconic circuit. For that, you’ll have to fork out extra, but even if you're not an avid gamer like me, it’s worth it for the lolz.
75 years of Formula 1 runs until the end of September 2025. To plan your visit and book tickets, head to: silverstonemuseum.co.uk/tickets
words: Charlotte Vowden
pictures: Ben Gregory-Ring Photography