In the absence of Rally GB, David Evans went to Silverstone to see what the pinnacle of British motorsport was all about
Photography by Red Bull, M-Sport & DirtFish
Words by David Evans, DirtFish Head of Media
After a summer spent talking about sweeping the road, this was taking things a bit far. For the second time in 20 minutes, a fleet of four actual road sweepers were tackling what’s reckoned to be one of the most exhilarating series of corners in Formula 1, Silverstone’s Maggots-Becketts complex. They were nudging 10mph.
I couldn’t help but smile.
Those filthy Formula 2 cars had clearly ruined the racing line on all 18 corners around the 3.6-mile circuit. Soon as the lorries were done, the volunteers were out with their brooms finishing the job. It was quite something. In rallying, road sweeping is done differently. Here, the World Rally Championship has employed a Welshman called Elfyn to send a million-dollar Toyota down the road to scatter the stones and uncover grip which sits beneath.
The approach is arguably that bit more scattergun and that bit less effective, but Elfyn Evans full-bore through Estonia next week will be a sight to behold. Four lorries with rotating brushes less so.
People of Formula 1: this is how you sweep a road clean
Welcome to the world of Formula 1. It’s Friday, practice day.
This year will mark a sixth consecutive season without me attending an FIA world championship event at home. Hopes of Scotland becoming the new Wales for a British WRC round remain strong, but so far unfulfilled.
With Drive to Survive working its magic on my daughter Georgia across the past couple of years, I relented and paid £200 for two general admission tickets (and £20 for two park and ride bus tickets) to find out if Motorsport UK could still put on a show.
I’ll be honest and admit I’m far from the biggest fan of parking and riding, but given our late call, it was our only option. We went for Turweston, which meant parking alongside the very runway where BGMsport owner Ian Gwynne shakes down and tests some of DirtFish owner Steve Rimmer’s stunning car collection. Bus ride part one was completed with me reminiscing about traversing the place in various Group B cars.
It's almost six years since the British woods echoed to the sound of the World Rally Championship
It took us around 30 minutes to get into the circuit, with the bus dropping us a stone’s throw from the corner formerly known as Bridge. With a good couple of hours to go before Free Practice 1 at 1230, I suggested a second breakfast.
“What about the interviews on the main stage?” Georgia asked.
“It’ll be nonsense,” I told her, authoritatively. Having listened to my former colleagues Edd Straw, Scott Mitchell-Malm and Jon Noble on a variety of The Race’s podcasts (second best pods in motorsport…) on the way down, I told her we knew all we needed to know.
Right on cue, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon arrived on stage.
“I co-drove for him in a Porsche on a frozen lake once…” My continued efforts to impress with some more varied motorsport history from my time in the job drew a withering look.
The McLaren drivers were put through their cake decorating paces on Friday
Sainz and Albon were being engaged in a Williams-based F1 quiz. Stumped by a particular question, they were offered the opportunity to phone a friend – the friend being Williams Racing team principal James Vowles. Sainz dialled the number and confidently held his phone to the mic. Nothing. No answer.
Slightly awkward, Vowles was obviously busy in some sort of briefing.
Unsure of the year Williams won its first ever Grand Prix, Albon called Vowles. He took the call immediately and provided the perfect answer. The crowd absolutely loved it. This was followed by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris decorating a cake and Fernando Alonso and Jess Hawkins answering questions about what’s in their garage.
Not a word about roll bars, ride height or how the weather could compromise Pirelli’s C2 compound.
Ridiculous.
“I thought it was really good,” grinned Georgia. “It showed a more human side of the drivers. And Carlos being ghosted… classic!”
Georgia was a big fan of her first real-time Formula 1 experience
With that, it was time to consider dropping almost £300 on a Ferrari ski jacket hoodie thing. Just what we needed as temperatures neared 30 degrees… I escaped with a Ferrari t-shirt and Max Verstappen hoodie.
The time had come for the cars.
Walking around Woodcote, I explained how Grampsy had brought me to the same day decades earlier and we’d sat in these grandstands on what was then the pit straight, waiting for Nigel Mansell to give us (and the tens of thousands we stood shoulder-to-shoulder with) a wave. Through Copse and on to our position at the entrance to Maggots.
Advertising boards meant we couldn’t see the cars coming out of Copse towards us, so the first view would be pretty much the apex of the left-hander.
First in, Gabriel Bortoleto’s Sauber.
Silverstone provides a stunning display of Formula 1 cars being driven on the limit
Georgia almost dropped the phone. About to turn and offer a comment, she was interrupted by the rapid arrival of Franco Colapinto’s Alpine. Quick got quicker and around 15 minutes in came the first flat-in-eighth approach, courtesy of Esteban Ocon’s Haas.
Nothing prepares you for that moment. With vision and hearing impaired by the trackside hoardings, the sensory assault is only magnified. Seeing a Formula 1 car steaming into view at 190mph, pinned through the left-right before dropping a cog into Becketts is one of the finest sights in motorsport.
I’m all about rallying, but this place, that speed and that pin-point, aero-squashed direction change takes your breath away.
Georgia was hooked.
“It just goes right through you,” she said, slack-jawed. “Your eyes almost need to adjust to register what they’re actually seeing.”
It went beyond sight and sound.
“Formula 1 smells like fireworks,” she smiled, stopping for another sniff. “With barbecued sweet chicken and melting Tarmac.
“I love it.”
And the other question?
Yes, without a doubt, Motorsport UK can still put on a show. Something a record-breaking half-million fans across the weekend would, no doubt, testify to.
Words:David Evans
Tags: Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz, Formula 1, James Vowles, Rally GB, Silverstone
Publish Date July 7, 2025 DirtFish
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