Before Silverstone became synonymous with Formula 1, it was a wartime airfield. RAF Silverstone operated as a bomber station during the Second World War, but after the war, its runways were given a very different purpose: racing.
On 2 October 1948, Silverstone hosted its first major race. The former airfield was transformed with ropes, straw bales and temporary barriers as around 100,000 spectators gathered to watch Luigi Villoresi win in a Maserati.
Just two years later, Silverstone made history again. On 13 May 1950, it hosted the first-ever Formula 1 World Championship race, which Giuseppe Farina won for Alfa Romeo in the presence of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. A year later, José Froilán González secured Ferrari’s first-ever F1 victory here.
Since then, Silverstone has evolved into the legendary 18-corner circuit it is today. From the sweeping speed of Copse to the rapid twists of Maggotts and Becketts, it has challenged generations of racing legends. Yet the spirit of those early races still lives on in every lap.
Today, you can experience that legacy from the driver’s seat. Feel the rush of acceleration, tackle Silverstone’s iconic corners and discover what it takes to drive where F1 legends raced. Some places are simply meant to be visited; Silverstone is an experience.
