Lewis Hamilton to miss the Oscars: Formula 1 film nominations clash with F1 Chinese GP. Lewis Hamilton will skip the Oscars despite his F1 film receiving four nominations.

Hamilton will miss major Hollywood event due to F1 commitments

Lewis Hamilton will not attend the Academy Awards ceremony, even though the Formula 1 film he produced has received four Oscar nominations. The reason is simple but unavoidable: the clash with the Chinese Grand Prix, which takes place on the same day at the Shanghai circuit.

The Shanghai GP keeps Hamilton away from Oscar night

The race in Shanghai will start at 3:00 PM local time on Sunday, while the Oscars ceremony begins at 7:00 PM Eastern Time in Los Angeles. This creates a roughly 16-hour gap between the end of the race and the start of the Hollywood event, making it impossible for the British driver to reach California in time.

Lewis Hamilton explained that he explored every possible logistical solution to attend the ceremony, but without success. “It’s simply impossible. I tried every way to get there on time, but unfortunately I can’t make it,” the seven-time world champion told international media.

Staying involved remotely

Even though he won’t be there in person, Hamilton will follow the event from afar and remain in contact with the project’s key figures. “I’ll be doing a video call with Joe and Jerry while they’re there. It’s really amazing, and I’m incredibly proud,” he added, referring to director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

Four Oscar nominations and global success

The F1-focused film, produced by Lewis Hamilton alongside Joseph Kosinski and Bruckheimer, has earned four major Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Editing. It has also been a commercial hit, grossing over $630 million worldwide after its summer 2025 release.

Hamilton’s involvement went beyond being a producer. He worked as a technical consultant to ensure maximum authenticity in the race scenes, many of which were filmed during real Grand Prix weekends.

Expanding the global F1 audience

Lewis Hamilton highlighted how the film has helped attract a wider international audience to Formula 1, drawing new fans to the championship. “I never imagined that the work we’ve done over the past few years would lead to this result. It’s incredible to see all of this,” he said.

According to Lewis Hamilton, the film’s success reflects the ongoing growth of Formula 1 and its ability to engage new spectators around the world. “Seeing so much promotion globally, seeing the excitement and new people getting passionate about F1 just like many of us did as kids is really fantastic. It’s great to see it continuing to expand.”

A historic moment for Hamilton and F1

The British champion concluded by reflecting on how special it is to continue being part of this historic moment in Formula 1. “And the best part is that I’m still here, still part of all of this, and I get to witness firsthand what’s happening.”

While an Oscar for Best Picture would be a monumental achievement for his off-track career, the drive for an eighth world title remains the priority. The “F1” movie has already done its job by bringing the sport to a wider audience, and a strong performance in Shanghai would be the perfect way to celebrate its success. As Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer represent the team in Los Angeles, Lewis Hamilton will be looking to produce his own masterpiece on the asphalt of Shanghai.