Inside The F1 Garage With Gordon Ramsay, ‘We’re Showcasing The Best of British’

This summer marks 75 years of Silverstone, the spiritual home of British motorsport, and while the action on track promises high drama and higher speeds, F1 is serving something delicious behind the scenes with Gordon Ramsay cooking up a trackside experience of his own.

For Ramsay, who grew up just minutes from Silverstone and once snuck in as a kid after Sunday school, this gig is full circle. Now he’s back, this time trackside. In the heart of the paddock, where engines hum and champagne flows, things are getting a sprinkling of Michelin-star clout, as Ramsay curates the food offering inside F1 Garage – an exclusive hospitality space. With menus inspired by the race weekend and a front-row seat to the action, it calls to both gearheads and gourmands alike. We caught up with Ramsay ahead of the British Grand Prix to talk food, fast cars, and his favourite teams.

Inside The F1 Garage With Gordon Ramsay

What was your first proper ‘wow’ moment with Formula 1?

I grew up literally five minutes away from Silverstone and you could hear the roar of the cars from the roads outside. Back in those days it wasn’t what it is now and as an eight-year-old kid I would sneak in there after Sunday school. It’s always been wow for me, from that kid then, to this guy now who has beautiful pop-up restaurants, Ramsay’s Garage, on the pit lanes all over the world.

You’re curating dishes inspired by each Grand Prix, what’s on the menu?

Over the three days we have three different menus, starting Friday with our amazing Asian inspired dishes from Lucky Cat. The menu includes confit duck leg bao and a stunning zanmai omakase. Saturday highlights include my signature beef wellington and a delicious traditional afternoon tea service. Race day on Sunday, we are showcasing the best of British will showcase a stunning prime roasted rib of beef served with all the trimmings.

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What’s the flavour of Silverstone? Any local ingredients or references making an appearance? 

It’s a very British menu, finishing with a beautifully English, seasonal strawberry laden Eaton mess.

Hospitality like this is a whole experience, not just a plate of food. What experience are you trying to create?

An incredible artisanal, jewel box of a travelling restaurant offering the best of the best in everything that we do. Everything about F1 is wow so Ramsay’s Garage has to be WOW too!

You’ve been around F1 for a while now, is there a driver or a team you’re secretly backing?

Oooh that’s a tough one. Honestly, I’m a quintessential James Bond fan so it has to be the Aston Martin. Also, Ferrari is just, well, Ferrari really – the class act. So yes, I guess it’s Aston Martin and Ferrari.

Do you think immersive, multi-sensory dining in settings like these are the future of luxury hospitality?

I don’t think it’s a new thing, for me fine dining has always been about the overall experience, the way the dining room ambience feels, the carpet under foot, the music, the lighting, the weight of the napkins, silverware and glass ware. Everything is so sensory. Then you layer in the service, the incredible attention to detail from the first person who greets you, all the way through to the end. Everything ion, everything adding to the overall experience.

When guests leave F1 Garage, what do you hope sticks with them most, the cars, the food, or the feeling? 

There’s no one thing, it really will be the overall day out. The noise, the cars, the palpable excitement in the air. But I do hope they feel the food is spectacular and that really adds something special to an already incredible day.

Is there a part of race day you secretly geek out over – the grid walk, the tyre strategy, the chaos in the pit?

That moment when the drivers go back to their cars after the grid walk. They shake hands with their mechanics, the red arrows have flown off, the band have finished, and the sense of expectation is incredible. They put their helmets on, visors down, there’s that almost chilling moment when the lights turn red and then off they go – bloody incredible!

If you could take any F1 car from history out for a spin, which wheel are you getting behind and why?

It would have to be the Ayrton Senna McLaren. I’ve been to the showroom and seen the rawness of those cars, what they did with those cars in the ‘90s without all of the technology and with a gear stick for god’s sake – it’s just amazing!

BOOK IT: Gordon Ramsay at F1® Garage 3-Days, call +44 203 770 3909 or visit f1experiences.com.