British Grand Prix: How Silverstone treats neurodivergent fans

Of course, there are parts of any day that simply cannot be missed.

There will be some queues and waiting, not helped by the unrelenting heat and sun. There will be some hand-holding as you move through the overwhelming crowd. And there will be certain sounds and smells that trigger anxiety.

You have to navigate those things as they happen – and no matter what you do, no matter what preparation, it can all be a little overwhelming.

Joshua was quiet for most of Saturday. He doesn’t give much away verbally, but you can see it in his eyes and body language as he struggles with his emotions and senses.

It all spilled out on the morning of the race. He woke up feeling weak, half wanting to go home and half wanting to get back on track. Brought to tears, this must have been an autistic flare-up the day before it began to manifest itself.

Thankfully, it passed with patience and rest – and we’re ready to go and bring the volume back.

Noise levels are a big talking point at the moment and especially relevant to Neurodivergent fans, as we’re seeing state-of-the-art racing machines thundering around the circuit.

Mohammed Ben Sulaiman – president of the governing body FIA – wants to return to V8 engines in 2030 or 2031. In layman’s terms, this means the cars will return to producing the more impressive – and much louder – sounds of yesteryear.

Some fans have been campaigning for such a switch, but it could have a negative impact on the growing Neurodivergent fanbase, which has become accustomed to the quiet hybrid engines used since 2014.

In the near term, though, the team at Silverstone can only focus on what’s in their control – and they’re getting a lot right.

In the family zone, an area accessible to all and in the area where Joshua got lost in Lego, there is a sensory room that is a refuge from the crowd.

A further 120 volunteers – or ‘seed makers’ – have been called in to help Silverstone meet its accessibility requirements by 2026.

“It’s great to see more and more people realizing that they can get outside, that they can do it, take their families and have a great time,” Broomhall said.

So did Joshua finally have a good time?

One of the best days of my life.