PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of Lee Floyd
Formula 1 is having its cultural moment. I say this as a queer person who can’t drive and has never paid attention to motorsports of any kind – yet, for the past four years, I’ve spent my Sundays glued to race-day coverage at the pub with (peer-pressured) friends, hungover on my sofa, or furiously refreshing a dodgy livestream on my phone. Since the unprecedented (and somewhat unexpected) success of Netflix’s sports documentary-turned-soap opera Drive to Survive, the sport – or more accurately, the drivers and their delicious inter-team drama – has been catapulted from the paddock to the global stage. And with it, a new generation of fans is tuning in like never before.
And okay, maybe it stings a little watching influencers waltz into paddocks you’ve been dreaming of for ten years – but let’s be real: the broadening of F1’s fanbase has done more good than harm. It’s brought fresh funding, opened doors for long-time motorsport lovers, and – most importantly – shone a spotlight on F1 Academy, the all-female series creating pathways for young women aiming for the top tier.
Traditionally, a Grand Prix weekend is spread across four days: practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, a 60-minute qualifying round on Saturday, and the main event – a roughly 90-minute race – on Sunday. For remote fans, it’s an easy routine to slot into a weekend schedule. But for those actually at the track, it leaves a lot of time to kill – and not everyone wants to spend it queuing for overpriced merch. To keep the newly devoted masses engaged (and entertained), race weekends have evolved into Formula 1 festivals, with live music performances, curated dining, and bespoke fan experiences designed to keep the buzz alive long after the chequered flag falls.
This year’s British Grand Prix at the Silverstone circuit didn’t just include live music – it served up a lineup where every act felt worthy of a Glastonbury headline slot in their own right. Thursday saw Blossoms and Sam Fender perform, JADE and Raye took to the stage on Friday evening, and the weekend’s performances included Fat Boy Slim, Becky Hill, Mabel, and even Idris Elba, who left his beloved Ibiza residency to soundtrack Silverstone.
Arriving at the track in the early afternoon, we explored the expansive interactive installations on offer, sipped a cocktail in the Red Bull T1 enclosure, and enjoyed catching a glimpse of our favourite drivers out on track during practice session 2. Shortly after, we headed into the team paddock – a pinch-me moment for any F1 fan – before hopping on a mini-bus to the Pop-up Hotel to dine at the trackside restaurant. A few glasses of champagne later, we were whisked to the eBay stage to see JADE perform.
The former Little Mix member commanded the stage with the kind of effortless energy that only comes from years of pop superstardom – but make no mistake, this was a rebirth. Gone was the girl group polish; in its place stood a solo artist radiating camp joy, alt-pop edge, and pure main pop girl energy. Dressed in slick leathers and dripping in attitude, she delivered a set that felt both intimate and electric. She didn’t just perform – she celebrated, throwing herself into each track with a freedom that felt rebellious against the rigid traditions of F1.
Shortly after, Raye took the stage with a quiet intensity that quickly grew into an unstoppable force. She opened with the unreleased ‘Where Is My Husband?’, seamlessly flowing into her latest track ‘Suzanne’, setting the tone for a set packed with raw emotion and precision. Draped in a custom red leather gown by Ferrari Style, she owned the space with a blend of vulnerability and fierce confidence, making every note feel like both a personal confession and a collective anthem. Closing with her BRIT Award-winning song ‘Escapism’, Raye continues to stand out as one of pop’s most compelling storytellers, transporting the crowd on a moody, cinematic trip that silenced the usual roar of Silverstone’s racing pulse.
Spending a day at Silverstone felt like stepping into a vibrant new chapter for Formula 1 – one where music, fashion, and fierce female energy collide against the backdrop of screeching tires and the thrill of high-speed racing. For a queer outsider-turned-fan like me, it was a reminder that sport can move beyond tradition and tension – it can be joy, community, and rebellion all rolled into one unforgettable weekend.
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