The F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone is one of motorsport's biggest events, but the TV broadcast only tells half the story – here's what really happens behind the scenes08:26, 13 Jul 2026The British Grand Prix is one of the most high-octane events on the UK sporting calendar. It's also one of the biggest and most extravagant, especially for a newcomer to F1.‌Our sister title, the Daily Star, went behind the scenes at Silverstone for the first time to reveal what really goes on in hospitality, what the Sky Sports cameras don't show you...and which celebs were doing the rounds.‌This is what they had to say...‌A few minutes before midday on Saturday, I found myself standing inside McLaren's pit lane garage, just feet away from their team of expert mechanics, buzzing with anticipation.As the seconds counted down, a whirlwind of emotions washed over me, but the most overwhelming thought by far was simply "how have I ended up here?" Directly ahead lay the start line for the sprint race of the British Grand Prix, somewhere off to my right Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz was broadcasting live to the nation, and there I was, immersed in it all and attempting to absorb my extraordinary surroundings.Then the lights went out, the sprint race of the British Grand Prix got underway and every single thought immediately vanished out of my head in a whirl of roaring engines. But I'm getting ahead of myself....‌I've been an F1 fan for years. It's the ultimate test of skill, endurance and nerve. But as I now know first-hand, watching it on the telly is a world away from witnessing it live.In a true bucket-list moment, I spent the entire weekend at Silverstone, experiencing things most people never get to see, surrounded by the electric energy of 564,000 fans.‌Thanks to the fine people at Allwyn — a multinational lottery and gaming company who also partner with F1 and the McLaren team — I was able to watch the whole spectacle unfold from the glitz and glamour of the Paddock Club, a lavish air-conditioned suite overlooking the pit lane and Abbey corner. To say it was a revelation would be an understatement.Along with an endless flow of champagne, beer, lobster, Wagyu beef and much more besides, the hospitality suite boasted race car simulators, a fully-functioning hair salon and makeup station, and a live DJ spinning tracks virtually round the clock.‌Yet beyond all the extravagance, the experience offered a genuine opportunity to explore and appreciate what makes the British Grand Prix — and Formula 1 as a whole — one of the most thrilling live sporting events on the planet.I wandered through various behind-the-scenes areas, strolled along the pit lane, and watched teams rehearsing pit stops while putting themselves through some fairly intense warm-up routines.I spent time in the McLaren team hub, had a chat with development driver Matteo De Palo, and even indulged in a spot of celebrity-spotting — Stuart Broad, Mollie King, Jack Grealish, Jackie Stewart and David Coulthard, since you're asking.‌And as previously mentioned, watching the sprint race from the team garage was nothing short of a surreal experience.Running through every moment of it is an unmistakable buzz of anticipation. The British Grand Prix is a genuine assault on the senses, comparable only to my first visit to Glastonbury.‌Wherever you turn, thousands of fans are hauling camping chairs, kitted out in their team's colours, all eagerly awaiting what the weekend has in store.The entire occasion builds and builds, ultimately reaching its crescendo on Sunday afternoon. Back in the Paddock Club, taking refuge from the scorching Northamptonshire heat, I stood on the terrace as the Formation Lap — of which Allwyn is the lead partner — got underway, and a palpable tension descended over the circuit.It is anticipation in its most distilled form — the quiet before the 52-lap tempest, where split seconds and a tyre fractionally off-kilter can spell the difference between elation and heartbreak.‌And it makes perfect sense. Allwyn knows all about that same sense of anticipation — whether you're clutching your lottery ticket with bated breath ahead of a draw, or watching Lando Norris hurtle down a straight at nearly 200mph, the adrenaline rush is identical.Fortunately, the race more than delivered across a breathless and dramatic 90 minutes, which saw Kimi Antonelli's car falter as he closed in on the lead, and Max Verstappen crash out while hunting down Lewis Hamilton in second place.And as if the on-track drama wasn't sufficient, there were opportunities to scoop prizes off it as well. The new Allwyn League fan engagement competition invites F1 fans to share in that sense of anticipation by predicting race weekend results, with prizes up for grabs including coveted Paddock Club access.Article continues belowSadly, just one of my podium predictions proved correct (unlucky Lando), but frankly, I reckon I'd already had more than enough excitement for one weekend....