Lights, Camera, Pit Stop: 10 Things To Know About ‘F1 The Movie’

The upcoming F1 The Movie isn’t just another racing flick, it’s a high-speed thrill ride packed with real drivers, real cars, and real emotions. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, known for Top Gun: Maverick, the film stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a seasoned Formula 1 driver navigating the pressures of the sport and mentoring a talented rookie, Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris.

With full cooperation from Formula 1, all 10 teams and their drivers make appearances in the movie, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton played a key role behind the scenes. Blending jaw-dropping race sequences with heartfelt storytelling, the film offers an authentic peek into the world of racing in Formula 1. Before it speeds into the cinemas, here are 10 things every fan should know, because this one is gunning for pole position at the box office, and you better be ready for it.

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1. Premieres on 26 June in Singapore

Mark your calendars, F1 The Movie hits the theatres in Singapore on 26 June 2025, just ahead of its wider international rollout. Whether you’re a die-hard racing fan or just here for Brad Pitt behind the wheel, this one’s made for the big screen and just won’t translate the same way on your couch.

2. Brad Pitt and Damson Idris drove real race cars

Yes, you heard that right. This isn’t one of those Hollywood set-ups where the stars sit pretty while a stunt double takes the wheel on the action. Brad Pitt and Damson Idris actually got behind the wheel and drove on real circuits after undergoing intensive training to handle the speed, pressure and razor-sharp precision that open-wheel racing demands, spending serious time on the track to prepare. These aren’t carefully edited cutaways—the race sequences were filmed with the actors driving at full throttle.

3. Lewis Hamilton personally trained the actors

Behind the scenes, Lewis Hamilton took on the role of mentor, race-craft guru, and producer. Over several months of intense coaching, Hamilton guided Pitt and Idris through real race-car training sessions, starting with private track days, including at Silverstone and Los Angeles. Hamilton didn’t just teach them to drive, he scrutinised their every move. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer praised his attention to detail, noting how Hamilton would correct gear selection, braking points and even engine sounds between corners.

4. Filmed during real F1 weekends

To make the racing feel as real as it looks, F1 The Movie was shot right in the heart of the action, during actual Grand Prix weekends. The crew filmed across 14 race events in the 2023-2024 season at circuits including Silverstone, Spa, Monza, Zandvoort, Suzuka, Mexico City, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi. At Silverstone, the APXGP production team took over a genuine pit garage, complete with uniforms, hospitality suites, and pit-wall setups, sandwiched between Mercedes and Ferrari.

Director Kosinski said that they often had mere minutes to film between practice and qualifying sessions, including nine minutes on the grid itself, all in front of tens of thousands of spectators. Working in tandem with the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) and the FOM (Formula One Management), the fictional APXGP outfit blended so seamlessly into the paddock that many spectators were unaware a major Hollywood production was underway.

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5. The cars were custom-built for the film

The producers did not rely on stock vehicles or props, they partnered with Mercedes and Carlin Motorsport to create six bespoke APXGP race cars. These are fundamentally Formula 2 chassis, but painstakingly reworked by Mercedes’ engineering teams: lengthened wheelbases, F1-style bodywork, extended noses, sidepods, finned floors, and around 15 camera-mount points built into each chassis.

Inspired by Toto Wolff’s suggestion, Kosinski wanted the cars to handle like actual race machines, not slow-down movie props. The final result? Vehicles that look convincingly like F1 cars on camera, but can still be driven safely by stunt crews and the actors, during real Grand Prix events. That means when you see APXGP on the grid, it’s not just a cinematic illusion, it’s genuine engineering with performance to match the drama.

6. Innovative iPhone-based camera technology was used

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To capture the thrill of racing from inside the cockpit, Apple worked closely with the production team to develop ultra-compact, iPhone-based camera rigs. These high-resolution modules were embedded directly into the APXGP cars, enabling seamless, high-speed footage from the driver’s point of view. This marks a huge leap forward in filming high-adrenaline action, with footage that genuinely puts the viewer in the seat.

The innovation didn’t stop on set. To promote the film, Apple also released the world’s first haptic feedback movie trailer. Available exclusively through the Apple TV app on iPhones running on iOS 18.4 or later, it uses the Taptic Engine to simulate engine vibrations, gear shifts and on-track impacts, all synced to the visuals. It is a bold step into immersive storytelling, turning even the trailer into a physical experience you can feel in your hands.

7. All 10 F1 teams and drivers appear as themselves

Unlike most racing films that create fictional leagues or avoid naming names, F1 The Movie goes full throttle with authenticity. All 10 official Formula 1 teams from Red Bull to Haas agreed to participate in the production, with real drivers, team principals, and pit crews appearing as themselves. That includes cameos from the likes of Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Lando Norris, woven directly into scenes filmed during the race weekends.

The fictional APXGP team was treated as the eleventh outfit on the grid, operating alongside the real teams throughout filming. This rare level of access and cooperation marks a first for Formula 1 in cinema, giving fans a uniquely immersive blend of fiction and reality that no racing film has ever managed before.

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8. Music is getting its own spotlight

To match the film’s undeniable adrenaline with sound, the filmmakers are rolling out F1: The Album, a companion soundtrack featuring original tracks inspired by the world of racing. Produced by Atlantic Records and Apple, the 17-track album drops on 27 June 2025, in sync with the film’s North American premiere.

It kicks off with “Lose My Mind” by Don Toliver and Doja Cat, which was released in April, and includes follow-up singles like Rosé’s “Messy”, Myke Towers’ “Baja California” and Tate McRae’s “Just Keep Watching”. With a lineup of chart-toppers and celebrity collaborators and genres ranging from pop to rap, the soundtrack amps up the film’s atmosphere, every beat tuned for peak excitement on and off the track.

9. Red Bull was cautious about its portrayal

While Mercedes’ involvement lent the film top-tier engineering credibility, it prompted caution from rival team Red Bull. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that early concerns by Red Bull stemmed from the APXGP cars featuring Mercedes and AMG branding. The team feared that they might inadvertently be cast as the “villains” in the story.

It took nearly three years to reassure and coax Red Bull that the narrative wouldn’t cast them in a negative light. Eventually, full cooperation was secured with Red Bull appearing onscreen alongside all other teams, maintaining a balanced portrayal throughout.

10. The final podium scene was filmed live at Abu Dhabi

In a spectacular merging of cinema and sport, the climactic podium moment was shot live at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, stepped onto a specially arranged podium alongside real drivers Charles Leclerc and George Russell, moments after the official ceremony.

It wasn’t staged on a backlot, they used the actual Yas Marina Stage, complete with cheering fans and post-race atmosphere. Pitt even sprayed champagne in full constume, filmed just minutes after the real race, mixing the drama with real-world celebration in one unforgettable cinematic takeover.