Speed, shots and scoops – stories from Silverstone

An extraordinary 564,000 people attended this weekend's British Grand Prix – the largest race weekend attendance in history for a Formula 1 event.

That figure was some 64,000 higher than last year's race, while more than 175,000 were at the Northamptonshire circuit on Sunday alone.

Charles Leclerc's first win of the season was the weekend's on-track tale, but away from the tarmac thousands of other stories contributed to a record-breaking weekend.

The scale of the event provides employment for thousands of people, but one group are prepared to give up their time for free.

An army of about 700 volunteers, known as Race Makers, take responsibility for welcoming fans and managing the crowds.

This year, mother and daughter duo Donna and Millie Wright were part of the effort.

The pair, aged 55 and 22, are "huge motorsport fans" and having attended Silverstone as fans were here to "see it from the other side".

Donna said: "The fans have been absolutely brilliant, everybody comes to have a good time, everyone's been happy, smiley. We've loved hearing which drivers everyone is behind."

Freelance photographer Harriet Fuller was working at Silverstone for the first time.

Armed with two cameras, Fuller, from Wiltshire, was tasked with capturing driver arrivals, VIPs and the race itself.

"There's a lot to do and a lot of timings to stick to, but it's incredible," she said. "I can't believe I'm here."

Her role also allowed her to fulfil a personal dream to photograph two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.

"He is a huge inspiration to me and my family," she said.

"My great-grandma, who sadly isn't with us anymore, he was her biggest idol. It's like her legacy for me to get that photo of him."

The emotion of working at Silverstone was also present for Sammie Hawkins, from nearby Brackley.

She was at the circuit with Gigi, a vintage ice cream van serving fans in one of the many hospitality sections.

Hawkins' husband, Graham, died suddenly in 2021. When she found out a friend was selling Gigi, a 1971 Bedford CF1, she felt compelled to give it a new lease of life in tribute to her late husband – a vintage vehicle and ice cream lover.

"This is my absolute dream," said Hawkins, who previously ran a cupcake business.

"I always wanted to get into Silverstone, this is my third time. It's mad, but fun.

"I feel so incredibly blessed to be here, despite my arm aching from serving 1,800 ice creams. Everyone is in a good mood, everyone's happy – and everyone loves ice cream."

It is estimated that about 60,000 fans camp in and around Silverstone during race weekend.

This year, the site at Whittlebury Park – usually a hotel, golf club and spa – marked its 40th year of camping, with more than 7,000 on-site.

The weekend has been a feature of Charles Sargeant's life since he was a boy.

"In 1992, when I was 10, Nigel Mansell came to open our golf course and I drove him around on the back of my quad bike.

"He said to me 'don't go too fast, I'm not used to speed'. The next day, he clinched the 1992 Formula 1 World Championship title at the Hungarian Grand Prix!"

Sargeant added that planning for the next Grand Prix would start soon after this year's visitors departed.

"It's quite difficult, but we have enough power on site to run 650 houses," he said.

"We have to run completely off-grid. Water, power, waste. All the things people don't think about. All the things people don't see."

The smooth running of the event was delivered by a large law enforcement effort headed by Northamptonshire Police.

Supt Pete Basham said it was something the force was "very proud" to support.

"It's our biggest operation of the year," he explained. "It's one of the biggest in the country when you consider sport.

"It's something we're very proud to be part of, within the huge, global, operation of Formula 1."

Although crime is traditionally low at the event, more fans means more to think about.

Basham said: "The 16,600-capacity Lando Norris stand holds more people than Northampton Saints' Franklin's Gardens – that's just one stand."

Additional reporting by Robert Constantin and Charlotte Vowden.

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