In the summer of 2025, the wait for the much-anticipated movie starring Brad Pitt will be over. Formula 1 fans around the world can look forward to seeing their favorite sport brought to life in the cinema. The producers of the Hollywood film are gradually revealing details about the release date, plot, protagonists and more. The first official trailer was also broadcast on Sunday, July 7, shortly before the start of the race in Silverstone, in the Formula 1 world feed and on the F1 YouTube channel. Motorsport-Magazin.com has collected all information about the film here.
First official trailer released: What is the new Formula 1 film about?
The teaser doesn’t reveal much about the plot, but it does advertise the film with spectacular driving shots and thrilling scenes. Thanks to 15 on-board cameras specially developed for the film, the fast-paced rides are captured from various angles. Well-known faces from Formula 1 can also be recognized: Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, Günther Steiner and other personalities from the F1 paddock will appear in the film.
All that is known about the plot so far is that a former racing driver named Sonny Hayes returns to Formula 1 in his old age. He was contacted by the team boss of the uncompetitive team APXGP and is expected to return to mentor the young Formula 1 talent Joshua Pearce.
What is the name of the new Formula 1 film?
The title of the film was kept secret by the makers for a long time and was only revealed on Friday during the British GP. The new film will be called simply “F1”.
Which movie stars appear in F1?
The main role of the racing driver who returns from retirement is played by 60-year-old Hollywood star Brad Pitt. His young teammate is played by Damson Idris (known from “Snowfall”). Other roles include Kerry Condon (known from “Avengers”), Javier Bardem (known from “Dune”), Tobias Menzies, Kim Bodnia, Shea Whigham, Sarah Niles and Samson Kayo.
Who are the director and producer of F1?
The production of Formula 1, Apple Studios and Warner Bros. has brought real top-class actors on board. The new Formula 1 film is directed by Joseph Kosinski. The screenplay was written by Ehren Kruger, who has already written other major films such as “Transformers”. The film is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who is supported by Chad Oman, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Lewis Hamilton. Kosinski, Bruckheimer and Kruger are known as directors of blockbusters such as “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
What role does Lewis Hamilton play in the new Formula 1 film?
Lewis Hamilton was involved in the production of “F1” from the very beginning and was one of the first and most important sources of ideas for Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s main task is to ensure that racing is portrayed realistically and authentically on the big screen. According to the producers, he gave a lot of input into the storytelling and creative design of the film.
Lewis Hamilton is also invaluable to the makers of “F1” because of his extensive connections in the Formula 1 world. First, he established a direct connection for Kosinski and Bruckheimer to Mercedes, who played an important role in the design of the APXGP film cars. From Hamilton and Mercedes, it was not far to the drivers and team bosses of all the other Formula 1 teams, right up to the top of the FOM and FIA organizations, Stefano Domenicali and Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Everyone who is anyone in the Formula 1 paddock is therefore indirectly involved in the new Formula 1 film.
How realistic is the new Formula 1 film?
The film’s main aim is to represent Formula 1 realistically. To achieve this, the production team travelled to the Grand Prix weekends of the premier class and produced the film footage there between the official sessions. The filmmakers wanted to convey the feeling of being in the paddock as directly as possible.
That’s why it was important for them to immerse themselves directly in the sport when filming. This happened, for example, on the starting grid for the 2023 British Grand Prix, a scene of which can also be seen in the trailer. All current Formula 1 drivers who appear in the new F1 film play themselves. Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz are said to be featured, for example, and Fernando Alonso is said to have filmed a scene in the Media Pen last weekend. The real sport is embedded in the fictional film.
“F1” therefore consists of real footage plus a small amount of computer-generated action scenes. “It’s the only sport where your teammate is also your competitor. That in itself is a great drama. Everything we use in the film actually happened in a Formula 1 race. The die-hard fans who really know their races will be able to empathize and experience the events from the point of view of our characters,” Bruckheimer promised in an exclusive interview with Deadline.
The filming directly in the F1 paddock with an eleventh Formula 1 garage in the pit lane and two APXGP cars following the twenty cars on the starting grid caused some criticism. Is the film damaging the sport? Christian and Stephan discuss this in this video:
Which car does Brad Pitt drive in F1?
To ensure an authentic portrayal, the actors Brad Pitt and Damson Idris also underwent extensive training in Formula 3 and Formula 2 racing cars. In the film, however, they do not drive a real racing car. In collaboration with Mercedes, they developed a modified film car based on a Formula 2 car that looks like a Formula 1 car. The ideas of Toto Wolff and his design and aerodynamics department in Brackley played an important role in this work.
But viewers don’t have to miss out on real Formula 1 cars, because the driving scenes of Pitt and Idris’s film cars are combined with real Grand Prix footage. The film will also feature the vehicles of Verstappen, Hamilton, Norris and Co. The film’s plot takes place during the 2023 Formula 1 season, the events of which are also reproduced in the Hollywood film, only expanded to include the plot of the APXGP team.
Where was the new Formula 1 film shot?
The Grand Prix tracks on which the filming takes place are also real. In 2023, the production was already visiting Silverstone, Budapest, Spa-Francorchamps, Zandvoort, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi. After After additional scenes for “F1” were first shot in Suzuka in April for the 2024 Formula 1 season, the Apple film shoot continued at the weekend in Silverstone. It then continues at the Hungaroring, Spa, Mexico and Las Vegas. Filming will be completed at the end of the year with the last Grand Prix weekend in Abu Dhabi.
When is the new Formula 1 film coming out?
“F1” is set to hit cinemas in summer 2025 – that has been known for some time. Now Formula 1, Apple and Warner Bros. have revealed the exact release date: The film will be shown in cinemas worldwide. In North America, “F1” will be released on June 27, 2025, and all other fans will be able to enjoy the new Formula 1 film two days earlier, on June 25, 2025.
Now you know everything you need to know about the new F1 blockbuster and what we think of it. But how did you like the trailer? What do you expect from the film? Tell us in the comments: