With the release of “F1 the Movie” approaching on June 25, Lewis Hamilton said he can’t wait for everyone to see it. The seven-time world champion is producing the film alongside Brad Pitt and Jerry Bruckheimer.
Last night, the film premiered in New York, with all the grid’s drivers, team principals, and the actors involved in the project walking the red carpet.
During an interview, Hamilton spoke about his working relationship with Brad Pitt, the learning journey, and why he believes this will be the “most authentic racing film ever made.”
Lewis Hamilton’s words
He first spoke about how he took on the role of producer in “F1 the Movie” and what it means to him to bring F1 to the big screen like never before.
Lewis Hamilton said: “Being involved in this project as a producer has been an incredible learning experience for me. I got to see what it takes to make a feature film, and the others also learned a lot, as everyone is now more familiar with Formula 1.”
“I’ve always loved cinema and storytelling, and I’ve loved this sport since I was five. So when I had the chance to speak with Joe Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer about the project, I felt like the two worlds I’m passionate about were coming together,” added the Brit. “I remember that at the start of the project I met Brad [Pitt] and reviewed the script, took part in meetings with the Apple and Formula 1 teams, and was involved in some of the early casting. From those first conversations to seeing it all take shape, it’s been a fantastic experience, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
The most authentic racing film
He then explained why this will be the most authentic racing film ever made.
“The access we had to Formula 1 was completely unprecedented. We even filmed during race weekends with the film’s eleventh team, APXGP, and you’ll definitely see that authenticity come through in the movie,” the seven-time world champion pointed out.
“The footage we shot during real races will be integrated into the film and enhanced with digital techniques to place the fictional teams’ cars into actual Grand Prix footage, making it feel truly realistic for fans of the sport.”
“They really appreciated my insights, even on the smallest details—like the sounds a car makes in certain parts of the track, or how a crash might happen. That’s exactly what Joe [Kosinski] and Jerry [Bruckheimer] wanted from the start: to create the most authentic racing film ever made,” Lewis Hamilton concluded.
Working with directors and producers
Director Joe Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer reached new cinematic heights with Top Gun: Maverick. For Lewis Hamilton, it was inspiring to work with them and see them bring all their expertise to this film.
“I grew up seeing Jerry’s name on movie screens—he’s a true legend—so finally being in the same room and working with him was a huge honor,” he said. “He’s still so enthusiastic, even after all his accolades and success. He’s so passionate about what he does, and it was really inspiring to watch. I was also really impressed by Joe—his focus, his ideas, his eye for capturing things.”
He was then asked what innovations he witnessed that made this film different from any other racing movie in history.
The Brit said: “Technology development. Camera placement. Some of what they used in Top Gun: Maverick with the fighter jets—Joe brought some of that tech into this film. His team and our director of photography, Claudio Miranda, together with Apple, took it to another level.”
“They developed a camera system that’s truly different—much more advanced than what you see during a race weekend broadcast,” he added. “The footage is much rawer, so when you watch it, you really feel like you’re in the car, going at incredible speeds.”
Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton also shared what it was like working with Brad Pitt on “F1 the Movie.”
“I never imagined I’d work with Brad Pitt. I’m a huge fan of his films, and I think the first time I met him was in Jerry’s office on Zoom, which was pretty crazy. But then we were on track together, and I discovered how passionate he is about motorsports—especially motorcycles—and I saw the natural talent he had behind the wheel. It was really amazing,” explained the seven-time world champion.
“I remember we were both at Silverstone, at Copse, and I was showing him the things I look at when entering a corner, and we were talking about how drivers are elite athletes, and how there’s so much going on in racing that people don’t see. The G-forces and everything our bodies go through, the rigorous training we do just to compete,” the Ferrari driver continued. “He was really interested in that level of insight, so he could bring maximum authenticity to his role.”
The role of Sonny Hayes
According to the Ferrari driver, Brad Pitt perfectly embodies the role of Sonny Hayes. He commented: “I think he did an extraordinary job. He brought a lot to Sonny’s character—not just as a driver, but also in how he supports an emerging, underdog rival.”
“For drivers, teamwork is important, but ultimately every other driver on track is a rival—even your teammate. So there’s a fine line, and I think you can really see how that dynamic unfolds between the characters played by Brad and Damson [Idris].”
The authenticity of the film
Part of the film’s authenticity lies in the fact that Brad Pitt and Damson Idris actually drove the cars in real races. This was key to making the movie.
Lewis Hamilton said: “I think having Brad and Damson actually drive was crucial to the story’s authenticity because, throughout my career, I’ve told people how hard racing is—and they’d ask me things like, ‘How much weight do you lose?’ ‘What kind of bruises do you get after a race?’ or ‘Wait, there’s no air conditioning in the car?’”
“It’s super demanding. And yes, we can lose up to 4.5 kilos during a race. So I think it was important for these two actors to face the mental challenges that we drivers go through—the speed at which we process information, the physical impact, the brake power, the G-forces…”
“I think it was really important for them, because you can’t fake that. If you haven’t experienced it, you can’t imagine it. By driving these cars—and they both did an excellent job—I believe they truly understood what it means to be a driver, and that’s what comes across in the film,” he concluded.
What it means to Lewis Hamilton
Finally, he was asked what it means to him to know that audiences will finally see the film he produced on the big screen.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion said: “Going from a treatment to a full script, working on it, then moving on to camera development, going through the whole process and now seeing it on the big screen… it’s incredible. I can’t wait to see the audience’s reactions and hear how it made them feel.”
“There’s so much authenticity, and you really feel the speed and the competition between the drivers—their hunger to win. It feels like everything is at stake. There are only 20 of us in the world who race in Formula 1, and this will allow everyone to experience that and feel the thrill of being behind the wheel of one of our cars. I really can’t wait,” the Brit concluded.
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