My Luv Letter to the Silverstone Grand Prix 2025
- Isabella Drenthen
- Jul 9
- 6 min read
Dear Silverstone,
My first full F1 weekend has finally arrived, the Silverstone Grand Prix of 2025!! And what better place than the most iconic of all circuits, Silverstone, the birthplace of Formula One 75 years ago. I’ve done an F1 weekend before, but only saw Qualifying and the Race. So officially… this was the real deal. The full trilogy. And I was with three of my best friends who are just as obsessed with the sport as I am, so, naturally, chaos and giggles were guaranteed. Let the shenanigans begin!
Day 1: Left-Side Mayhem & Bush Driving
Today’s the day, we’re off to the UK! I picked up my friends at Rotterdam Central and was lucky enough to borrow my mom’s SUV for the weekend. I love my little Fiat dearly, but let’s be honest: four girls, manual driving, left-hand traffic, and all our bags? That tiny car would’ve been crying by the time we hit Calais.
The drive to Calais went pretty smoothly, even though we missed our original train slot. Thankfully, we got on the next one without too much drama… or so we thought.
What I didn’t realize, because apparently I’ve never researched how a car fits into a train that travels under the ocean, is just how tight it is. We had to twist and turn our way up to the second level like we were trying to parallel park on a rollercoaster. The SUV was literally too wide for comfort, I had to fold in the mirrors and still managed to lightly brush against the fire safety door (no scratches, I swear, Mom).
Once parked, the turbulence kicked in. Yes, train turbulence. It felt like being in a car wash inside a moving spaceship while a Hunger Games-style voice told us to "enjoy the journey" and "follow safety procedures." Terrifying to say the least.
Thirty-five minutes later, we arrived in the UK, and suddenly I was driving on the “wrong” side of the road. The only thing in my head: “STAY LEFT, STAY LELELELELEFFFFTTTT.” Surprisingly, I adapted pretty quickly. We grabbed a Costa coffee and lunch to celebrate survival and hit the road towards our Airbnb. A scenic countryside drive and a minor incident with a narrow road and an unbothered truck driver later (yes, I drove into the bushes… slowly), we arrived safely.
Side note: Driving on the left might’ve been chaotic at first, but hey, it was the perfect training for my next trip. South Africa, I hope you're ready because this time I might be the one driving the bakkies.
Day 2: The Landostand & Photo Panning Challenges
We slept in a bit because, let’s be real, we were exhausted. Then we drove to Sixfields Stadium, where we had our P&R parking and hopped on the shuttle bus to the track.
What followed was a full-body cardio session called “Mario Kart: Walking Edition”, sprinting through the crowds using only leg speed and desperation to make it to our Landostand for FP1. We made it just in time!
The seats were great for viewing, but not so much for motorsport photography. A giant rail in front of us screamed “safety,” but also “you shall not pan.” So, I did what any self-respecting photographer would do: I followed the guys with the big lenses and found a better spot closer to the track.
I still get a thrill from chasing that perfect shot (out of 500 attempts). My head was spinning from all the panning, but it was so worth it. Lando ended FP1 with a cheeky wave to his minions on the Landostand, 10/10 fan service.
We regrouped for lunch (gyros = elite) and hit the megastore for some merch. For FP2, I found another photo spot and managed to zoom in on a car’s side mirror and catch the reflection of the driver. Yes, I am a visionary (just kidding). Later we tried meeting up with a friend who works at the track, but timing was off. So, we headed to Wagamama for dinner and stopped at Sainsbury’s for emergency after-sun. Lesson learned: UK sun? Very sneaky.
Day 3: Quali Chaos & a Secret High-Five
Quali day! We left earlier, anticipating the chaos, only to find everyone else had the same idea. We got redirected to a different lot, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise with a better connection to the track.
We managed to catch up quickly with our friend before FP3, then grabbed lunch and did another merch run, this time to buy Fleur a sweater because the British wind was not playing around.
Qualifying was thrilling. We played the “Who’s Out in Q1” guessing game and tried to predict pole position based on engine screams alone. It felt a bit traitorous, but when Max got pole, Fleur and I gave each other a small Dutchie high-five in the Landostand. Don’t tell Lando.
We stuck around after Quali to watch F4 (historic weekend: F1, F2, F3 and F4 on the same track). With everyone else gone, we scored some free seats and I finally got my rail-free photography fix. Getting back was hectic but surprisingly well-organized. Dinner? Five Guys. Delicious in theory, regret in practice. The food coma hit hard.
Day 4: Wet Wins at Silverstone Grand Prix 2025
It’s race day!! We got up early to beat the crowds, arrived around 10:30… and so did the rain.
Ponchos on, we looked like soggy hobbits as we danced our way through puddles to the grandstand and caught the F2 race, which was wild thanks to the soaked track. Luke Browning was on a mission, overtaking like a maniac and ending up third after starting 12th. The commentators were iconic, dubbing a corner after him and throwing out jokes left and right. They seriously made the whole experience even better.
Then came the drivers’ parade. We waited for Lando, but due to the worsening rain, he only shot shirts into one lucky section. We weren’t in it, but hey, we saw him! Afterwards, we had some hash browns for lunch, naturally.
Then the F1 race started… and the chaos followed. Wet conditions meant everyone pitted straight away, and the leaderboard looked like a toddler had scrambled it. Stroll was almost leading at one point, did not see that one coming. There were a few safety cars, and right in front of us, Piastri and Verstappen had a spicy little incident. Prime viewing, honestly.
Lando took the win and the Landostand went feral. Hulkenberg getting P3 was a massive win too, his first podium ever after 239 races!! He deserved that moment more than anyone.
Afterwards we grabbed coffee and pastries. I got a mocha… and then immediately spilled it on myself and Fleur during some light-hearted play fighting. Zero injuries, just a bruised ego (and a mildly damp hoodie—sorry Fleur!).
Before heading home, we realized the track had opened for fans, so we walked the very corner we’d been staring at all weekend. From the stands it looked tight and twisty, but walking it? Way wider. Perspective is wild sometimes huh.
Back at the bus queue, the sun came back out and so did the sunburns… For dinner, we had pizza but were too tired to even speak. On the way home, GPS rerouted us… straight through Milton Keynes.
Naturally, we had to swing by Red Bull HQ. F1 girls in an SUV with Dutch plates pulling into the parking lot, laughing uncontrollably. The security guard gave us a side-eye, but once he clocked the F1 merch and general girlboss energy, he let us vibe. 10/10 detour. Manifesting my future employment there. (Please hire me, I’ll bring snacks!)
Back at the Airbnb, we packed our stuff for the journey home the next day.
One Last Hug (and a Tiny Existential Crisis)
This weekend ended on a surprisingly emotional note. As we said our goodbyes, it hit us, we didn’t know when we’d all be together again. Life’s about to shift gears for everyone, and all our roads are heading in different directions. I’m off to France for my Master’s, one friend might stay in the US, another is considering travelling for a bit, and one is hopefully getting a new contract (with a well-deserved promotion).
We’ve been through versions of this before, like last year when we moved to Lyon and one started her internship—but this time, it feels… different. Bigger. More permanent. Everyone’s heading off to explore and grow, which is beautiful and a bit scary. And while the idea of living alone in France for 10 months gives me all the feels (mostly good, some nervous), I’m so grateful we had this weekend. The memories, and laughs, will keep me company no matter where I land next.
Until Next Lap...
Thank you, Silverstone, for an unforgettable weekend. It was our first time doing the full thing, and we absolutely loved it. Everything was incredibly well-organized (I severely underestimated that part), the vibes were immaculate, and the memories will live rent-free in my brain for a long, long time. We are already discussing which Grand Prix will be next to visit…
Highly recommend to anyone thinking of going! Silverstone is a history-packed, never-a-dull-moment, old-school gem, especially for the real F1 fans out there!
Spread the Luv,
Isabella
P.S. If this luv letter left your heart racing faster than a formation lap — good news! You can now bring a piece of Silverstone home. My brand-new Luvly Shop is live, and it’s stocked with my favorite F1 snaps from the weekend. Prints, speed, and a whole lotta luv, waiting for you there! Take a little peek down below already for a sneak-peek at the prints!