Mirror viewers editor Harry Rutter loved a lavish, star-studded VIP expertise on the British Grand Prix as Lando Norris scooped his first Silverstone win for McLaren, watching Glastonbury-like performances from Sam Fender and Raye
Lando Norris gained his first British Grand Prix in entrance of 1000’s of soaked followers at Silverstone on Sunday – however the F1 is not all in regards to the racing this yr.
Behind-the-scenes there’s much more happening, and that is precisely what Mirror man Harry Rutter came upon throughout a days-long, celebrity-packed VIP expertise on the well-known racetrack nestled close to its tiny Northamptonshire village.
With performances from Seventeen Going Underneath hitmaker Sam Fender, rockers Blossoms, Little Combine sensation Jade Thirlwall and up to date Glastonbury sensation Raye, there’s clearly one thing for everybody over the Components 1 weekend.
Our jam-packed schedule began on the Thursday, with a heat welcome on the official backstage supplier for this yr’s grand prix, Bluebird. With prompt behind-the-scenes privileges got here an thrilling second for our group as Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc casually cycled previous as he ready for Friday’s spherical of free apply occasions.
Leclerc, who was runner-up within the Components One World Drivers’ Championship in 2022, acknowledged us and was shortly adopted by Pink Bull’s Liam Lawson, who now races for the Christian Horner-fronted crew’s second unit, the Visa Money App Racing Bulls.
Additionally dropping by Bluebird was F1 commentator and Sky Sports activities star David Croft, recognized to TV viewers as Crofty. Chatting with the Mirror he defined how good it was to loosen up earlier than being thrown into work over the weekend. He too was gearing up for an evening of music earlier than needing to leap on the microphone forward of Sunday’s huge race.
“It is lights out… and away we Land-ooo,” he says in a private video filmed for me, pre-emptively hinting at a giant yr for Norris, or perhaps even predicting his win. Love Island’s season five-star Michael Griffiths was additionally noticed having fun with Bluebird’s facilities, getting an oiled hand therapeutic massage from one of many employees earlier than hitting the free bar.
All-inclusive choices included expensive bottles of Moey and Chandon champagne, giving the unique friends the complete Components 1 expertise. Limitless free Pink Bull was additionally on the playing cards, with Heineken beers out there as effectively throughout the intensive menu.
Shuttle buses and black London taxis took us throughout the mammoth Silverstone website, taking us to Escapade for dinner. The lavish location boasts properties costing over £2million for the uberwealthy to benefit from the calendar of races from a personal balcony.
With a £150 particular F1 menu on provide from their most important visitor ‘membership home’, we had been handled to the last word meal that the celebs tuck into earlier than watching the automobiles go by.
We had been transported to the paddock subsequent the place we skilled every little thing the wealthy and well-known can, proper behind the pit wall. Nevertheless it wasn’t simply celebrities strolling round, it was the drivers too – shockingly.
We bumped proper into Lewis Hamilton, sporting his Ferrari race go well with following his transition from Mercedes. Moments later we noticed Lando Norris performing some press interviews via the glass at McLaren’s hospitality.
Sky Sports activities had been dwell on-air as we watched TV crews scramble to maintain the programme operating, together with dozens of worldwide retailers reporting from the garages. Regular folks like me would by no means usually see this sort of behind-the-scenes motion, with out shelling out 1000’s on paddock passes in fact.
Blossoms kicked off Thursday night time’s leisure with guitar-driven melodic hits, together with Charlemagne, Your Girlfriend, and up to date fan-favourite Gary. Sam Fender took to the stage and cranked issues up a notch for the roaring crowd, performing a set of basic hits comparable to Seventeen Going Underneath, Folks Watching and Hypersonic Missiles to shut out night time one at Silverstone in type.
It was the following day’s tour of the paddock the place we ran into extra well-known faces, together with Williams driver Carlos Sainz, adopted by RB’s Liam Lawson – once more. Additionally questioning round was Maura Higgins, in addition to Gordon Ramsay. Joined by his spouse and daughter, the TV chef was internet hosting his personal VIP restaurant for paddock passers.
Friday night time noticed Raye take to the stage because the Mirror noticed Hamilton as soon as once more seem – however this time he was aspect of stage, cheering on the singer amid swirling romance rumours. He watched her total set, clapping from the sidelines and absorbing the ambiance following the hitmaker’s spectacular set at Glastonbury Pageant.
She closed the present with an unforgettable efficiency, taking part in a list of hits comparable to Prada and Escapism – ending off two days of untamed leisure even earlier than the racing had begun in a festival-like extravaganza for ticker holders.
Commenting on the motion away from the observe Silverstone’s chief industrial officer Nick Learn advised the Mirror: “This yr, Silverstone is proud to showcase one of the best of British expertise, bringing collectively iconic artists as we rejoice Components 1’s seventy fifth anniversary as we proceed to up our sport.
“Our all-British music lineup displays our dedication to delivering world-class leisure that resonates with followers each on and off the observe. We’re delighted to welcome JADE, Mabel, Blossoms Idris, Mike Skinner, Sub Focus, Eats The whole lot and DJ Luck & MC Neat to this yr’s lineup.
“It’s a testomony to the wealthy heritage of British motorsport and music that Silverstone has developed since internet hosting its first Components 1 British Grand Prix 75 years in the past, and we’re tremendous excited to honour this milestone with an unforgettable pageant expertise.”
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