I was one of the record-breaking 564,000 at the British Grand Prix – I saw Max Verstappen’s crash from the fluorescent Landostand

It was just one unforgettable moment during a British Formula One Grand Prix weekend that attracted a record-breaking 564,000 spectators at Silverstone – and I was lucky enough to be one of them.

The dramatic finale was only one chapter in a memorable four days, from an unmissable David Guetta concert to inspiring driver Q&As, unrelenting entertainment and a host of competitive races out on track.

Friday began with the deafening noise and sheer speed of the F1 Academy, F3, F2 and F1 free practice sessions, giving us a taste of what was to come after taking to our grandstand seats for the first time.

But my Friday highlight had to be watching seven-time world champion and home hero Hamilton clinch Sprint pole with a lightning lap.

Although I was surrounded by a sea of fluoro supporting Lando Norris in the Landostand, it gave me goosebumps seeing Hamilton throw all his might into swinging his scarlet Ferrari around Stowe.

That scintillating qualifying session set the tone for an action-packed 100km dash in the British Sprint on Saturday.

It was a tense watch, however patience was a virtue for Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, the eventual winner.

It was surreal to see the crucial overtake right in front of us at the end of the Hangar Straight as championship leader Antonelli clinched his first-ever Sprint victory.

But the reception for Antonelli was no match for the blaring cheers for Norris, who soared from sixth on the grid to clinch a surprise podium in P3.

We didn’t have long to wait until the next adrenaline rush as the 22 drivers returned to the track merely a few hours later for the main qualifying.

It was a great buzz to witness four of the five British drivers advance to Q3, with Haas’ Ollie Bearman the only one to miss out. But it was a disappointing afternoon for Norris as his hotlap was only good enough for P6 on the grid.

On Sunday morning, I had butterflies in my stomach. I’d never attended an F1 race before, so it was already a huge day. But what made it even more significant was the astonishing attendance.

Don’t get me wrong, Thursday, Friday and Saturday were mind-blowing enough and the queues walking around the track were staggering as it was.

But Sunday was on another level. You’re talking 175,000 people in one place at one time, all with a common passion for motorsport and electrified with excitement.

Walking around, there was swathes upon swathes of F1 merchandise, from the McLaren papaya to the Ferrari red and the Mercedes turquoise.

In fact, no team was left unsupported. Even Cadillac were shown a lot of love, as I must have spotted at least a hundred caps representing the American newbies.

Approaching the Grand Prix itself, we were treated to some thrilling races in the other categories, including a hard-fought win for Bulgarian driver Nikola Tsolov in F2.

It was great to see the grandstands so full for what was, in boxing terms, essentially one of the undercards.

What followed was great fun, as the F1 drivers’ parade had a hilarious spin for 2026, with all 22 heading out on Lego go-karts.

For some, especially the backmarker Aston Martin drivers, the Lego battle was probably more thrilling than the race itself!

It was such a laugh seeing them all go wheel-to-wheel, bashing into one another and sending hundreds of Lego pieces flying. Some even took to the grass and gravel traps to try and cut corners, desperate to win.

I’m not sure who had the idea to put the world’s fastest drivers in what appeared to be the world’s slowest karts, but they deserve lots of credit. It was the perfect way to calm the nerves.

Then it was time for the main event, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

A lot of hard-earned money goes into attending Silverstone. You’ve also got to be prepared to put in heinous amounts of steps, put up with the queues and to brave the either brutally hot or soakingly wet weather.

But it’s all worth it when you get to experience what we did.

Even though Norris was unable to soar into the podium positions once more, I’m convinced that the Landostand was the place to be at Silverstone.

With the vast majority of us draped in Lando’s signature fluoro colours and with chants and Mexican waves galore, the vibes were surely unmatched anywhere else around the circuit.

Every time Norris passed, everyone cheered and waved to create an unmissable atmosphere. And you could tell he appreciated the support to no end.

It also turned out to be the perfect place to see the action unfold, as we saw a host of important overtakes for position and even the most talked-about moment of the entire 52 laps – Verstappen’s crash.

Swooping into Stowe at a little over 180mph, Verstappen fell victim to an active aero failure, causing him to slide into the gravel trap and come to an abrupt stop.

The dust cloud consumed us as the four-time world champion’s accident happened right in front of us. Max then walked along the front of Landostand to show his appreciation.

The race finished with a safety car which felt like an anti-climax. But it meant the order was sealed, with British drivers George Russell and Hamilton clinching home podiums and Norris in a respectable fourth.

That certainly lifted the mood, and as did the track walk after the podium celebrations, which was well worth the hour-long wait as I joined the flock heading out onto the asphalt.

A core memory was then unlocked among the crowds on the pit straight, as we could hear the Ferrari party unfolding in the paddock, celebrating Charles Leclerc’s maiden Silverstone win.

Leclerc and Hamilton both emerged, jumping up on the pit wall fences just a few metres in front of us, treating us to a warm smile and wave.

That moment was caught by dozens of photographers, all desperate to get the best angle, and I will treasure the images captured.

As the crowds slowly filtered towards the exits and the noise finally began to fade, it was hard to believe I'd just spent four days at a record-breaking Formula 1 weekend.

My legs were exhausted, my voice was gone, but I'd do it all again tomorrow. Until next year, Silverstone.