The boss of Silverstone has defended the £429 price tag for tickets at the British Grand Prix - as Hollywood a-listers from across the globe begin to arrive. 

A beaming Brad Pitt, 60, was among the first celebrities to be spotted in the paddock ahead of this weekend's action in Northamptonshire. 

Sporting red and black shades and a stylish black and white coat, Pitt appeared in fine form, waving to the camera - with his appearance coming just days after he was seen on the London set of his Formula One movie. 

British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, 26, joined Pitt in the paddock, with the Normal People star posing for selfies with fans in the pitlane. 

While British Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton was also pictured strutting in Silverstone sporting a bold outfit, including a white designer Dior handbag, as he walked his dog Roscoe.   

This weekend's action comes amid controversy around the cost of the event, with furious fans having slammed price of tickets, branding it a 'p*** take'. 

Even racing ace Hamilton raised his concerns about the three-figure toll and called for prices to be dropped - with a Grand Prix day retailing at £309 while a four-day event pass would cost race-goers £429.

The seven-time world champion - who was today spotted signing an autograph for a young fan - feared the tickets could be 'hugely expensive' for families and called for a drop in the cost.

Speaking ahead of the racing showcase, Hamilton said: 'We have to watch ticket prices. I think they're continuing to rise and the cost of living nowadays, I think it's too high.

'I'm just thinking from the perspective of a fan that would come with a family. It's hugely expensive, so I think it's looking into ways where you can make better accessibility for people.'

Stuart Pringle, chief executive of Silverstone Circuit, has insisted the cost of a pass covering all four days of the racing spectacle in Northamptonshire was 'good value'.

He said the action not only including world-class racing but also live concerts - with the likes of Stormzy, the Kings of Leon and dance DJ legend Pete Tong among those set to take to the stage. 

Mr Pringle told the BBC: 'It's good value when you weigh up what's included.

'Not only are you getting a world-class sporting event, you are getting a concert within the ticket price every night of the entire weekend.'

He added that there was 'a comedy club in there, a second stage, there's all the support races'.

The race track chief added that many people had bought their tickets in advance at a reduced price, and the profits from sales were put back into grassroots motorsport. 

But punters are not convinced, with some racing fans taking to social media to vent their outrage. 

One person on X, formerly Twitter, wrote: 'For the price of a weekend ticket at Silverstone you can fly out to Hungary for a 4-day weekend watch the race and travel back for cheaper, the cost of Silverstone tickets are a p*** take.' 

Last year saw a record number of 480,000 people descend on the Northamptonshire circuit - with the same number expected to flock to the British motorsports mecca. 

The spectacle is the highlight of the F1 calendar - but in recent years has become a nightmare for locals, who have lashed out at the chaos caused by the crowds. 

The 2023 race saw residents living next to the iconic race track were fined for parking outside their own home

People in the village of Silverstone were handing £1,500 worth of fines over strict parking rules that were being enforced during the event. 

The rules were part of a temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO) which had been imposed on the area - with the same ban coming into effect on Friday lasting until Sunday, prompting fears the same fiasco could happen again. 

The idea of the order was to prevent members of the record crowd of 480,000 spectators parking in nearby villages.

But a misunderstanding led to locals with exemption permits being fined anyway.  

Mel Dennision, who has lived in Silverstone for 60 years and has multiple sclerosis, told BBC Radio Northampton: 'We've never had this issue before. We've never been demanded to move our cars.

'I've always left my car there with my residents' pass and blue badge and never been asked to move it before. Never.' 

Track bosses later said they would pay the fines for residents as a goodwill gesture. 

This year's event has already attracted the rich and famous, with Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt leading the celebrity A-listers at the action. 

Sporting his dirty blonde locks, The Mr & Mrs Smith actor was seen slipping into a racing outfit and helmet while inside the paddock. 

It's thought 60-year-old Fight Club star was filming another scene for his upcoming Formula One movie. 

Earlier this week, Pitt was spotted being filmed at the Langan's Brasserie in London's Mayfair district. 

The restaurant was turned into a Las Vegas supper club where Pitt's character attends a poker night.

Pitt is set to co-produce the film and act as a retired Formula One driver who gets back behind the wheel.

Production on the film began in 2023 and will include scenes from this season's British Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi races.

As DailyMail.com previously reported, all 10 F1 teams will featured, including the sport's drivers and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.

While Lewis Hamilton has had a hand in producing the project, which is slated for a 2025 summer release. 

The latest sighting of Pitt comes two months before the eight year anniversary of his split from wife Angelina Jolie, whom he is still fighting with over custody of their six children, even though most of them are adults now.