F1 movie hits cinemas: A thrilling ride from track to screen

Hollywood has finally tightened its seatbelts and driven itself into the high-speed world of Formula 1. Released on June 27, the movie F1 is already generating buzz among fans and insiders alike. It aims to bring F1's pulse-racing drama to the big screen. Has it succeeded?

Hollywood meets the grid

One of the things that makes F1 so exciting is that the movie was filmed during race weekends with full FIA support. Filming took place on various Grand Prix weekends during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, most notably the British Grand Prix in July 2024 at Silverstone, UK. A garage was set up for the fictional Formula 1 team, located between the garages of the Mercedes and Ferrari teams.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton assisted with the production. So, it goes without saying that this film is not just for entertainment; it deepens our understanding of the sport. You will be transported into another world with stunning visuals, real-world tension, and full-speed storytelling.

Brad Pitt races into character

In the film, Brad Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a once-celebrated F1 driver whose career was cut short in the 1990s by a crash. Years later, he was invited back into the car by former teammate Ruben Cervantes (played by Javier Bardem) to drive for an underdog team called APXGP (Apex Grand Prix).

In a recent interview, Brad Pitt opened up about the preparations for the role. Brad expressed his enjoyment of diving into the high-octane environment of F1 and how much it meant to have the backing of the sport’s devoted fan base.

"If we didn't pass their bar, then we were dead, you know? And to get that kind of, I don't know, response means a lot to us because we have, again, so much respect for these drivers, for this sport, for everyone, the teams, everything they put into it. They made the movie too. They're a big part of the film," Brad said.

Filming included sequences shot at the iconic Silverstone Circuit during the British Grand Prix, where Pitt revealed he had the surreal experience of stepping onto the track in front of thousands of spectators.

“We had been, like, rehearsing there for a few weeks, so it kind of felt like it was home," he said. "But then, when the whole race movement comes in, it's such a juggernaut of a machine. It's really awe-inspiring, and then to get on the track with 100,000 fans, I was a little nervous. Actually, no, it was a high. Like sitting and waiting, it was once you get going, it's a high. It's a high.”

Despite decades of career hits such as Ocean’s Eleven, Troy, and Fight Club, Brad shared that working on this F1 project has brought a fresh sense of energy and purpose.

F1 drivers catch a sneak peek of this racing blockbuster

Excitement was high when the F1 drivers attended a private viewing ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. All 20 drivers gathered to find out the fate of the fictional APX GP team, but Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll were unable to attend.

Although Brad Pitt was absent, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was there to say a few words, followed by director Joe Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who each offered their remarks.

Let’s see what some of the drivers had to say about this epic movie:

Nico Hulkenberg

The Sauber driver commented, "It's Hollywood, so you need to take a step back and see the broader picture. It's not about the fine details, but I think it's still a new, fresh perspective. There were some good actors in there, too. Brad Pitt is my role model now. My new aim is to drive in F1 at age 61."

Charles Leclerc

"We are looking at it as Formula 1 drivers, and we always try and see all the small details that are not exactly true, but it's just very Hollywood-like, and I think that's really cool because it's not for F1 drivers. It's for a broader audience."

The Ferrari driver continued with, "The driving scenes are incredible. I'm super impressed by how the camera was mounted on the cars and the angles from which we see the cars driving. I know that Brad drove a little bit himself, which is very impressive, and I'm sure he enjoyed it."

Lando Norris joked that it was the “closest thing to a podium without driving.”

For the public, their reactions added fuel to the hype, sparking more excitement across the motorsport world. Hamilton's old rival Fernando Alonso said: "It was good. I like the movie, and I think it accurately represents the Formula 1 aspect of it.”

Formula 1’s streaming takeover

This isn’t F1’s first time charming audiences off the circuit. Formula 1: Drive to Survive is a British documentary series produced by Netflix and Formula One, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the drivers and races of the Formula One World Championship.

Drive to Survive has been criticised for the use of fake or misplaced commentary and team radios, staging certain scenes, and placing undue importance on test and practice sessions. There was also over-dramatising or misrepresenting certain events within the Formula One world.

F1: The Academy

F1: The Academy is a Netflix docuseries that follows the first season of the all-female F1 Academy racing series, aiming to showcase the rising generation of women in the motorsport industry.

It's a separate series from "Formula 1: Drive to Survive," although both are produced in collaboration with Formula 1 and Netflix. With seven episodes, this series is exclusively produced by F1 Academy’s managing director, Susie Wolff, alongside Ian Holmes and Isabelle Stewart for F1.

The docuseries highlights the drama of the races, as well as the personal stories and high stakes for these incredible drivers and their teams, as they break barriers in one of the most demanding sports in the world.

Susie Wolff said: "We want to be the rocket fuel that drives female participation in our sport, both on and off the track. To have the F1 ACADEMY docuseries launch globally with Netflix is not just a huge step forward in visibility for our mission, but also a resounding statement about the momentum and demand for women’s sport.”

Fast lane fame

One could say that Formula 1 fame is at its peak! Fans are multiplying, Netflix and Hollywood are now closely involved, and the number of drivers dreaming of a place among those elite 20 is probably more than ever. Others could argue that the sport has always been at the top of the list of most popular sports!