Joseph Kosinski’s F1 The Movie is setting a new standard in racing cinema by placing Brad Pitt and Damson Idris directly into the world of Formula 1. Both actors trained rigorously for four months, driving modified Formula 2 cars at speeds of up to 180 mph on tracks including Silverstone, Monza, and Spa, ensuring realistic portrayals of professional racers.
Collaborating closely with Formula 1, the production gained unprecedented access to real race weekends, building an authentic paddock and garage for their fictional team, APXGP. Producer Lewis Hamilton supervised driver authenticity, from technical driving skills to the physical demands racers experience during Grand Prix events.
Innovative cinematography was central to capturing this realism. The team developed compact, IMAX-quality cameras to film dynamic, in-car perspectives. Mounted at multiple points on the vehicles, these cameras captured authentic driver reactions and intense G-forces without relying on CGI or special effects.
Actors Pitt and Idris performed their own driving stunts, filming live during actual race weekends between official sessions, fully immersing themselves in Formula 1’s intense atmosphere. Javier Bardem added further authenticity by shadowing Mercedes principal Toto Wolff, capturing the real-time drama of race management amid packed grandstands.
Filming occurred during 14 official race weekends over two seasons, showcasing authentic Formula 1 settings. Despite tight filming windows—often just minutes between official track activities—the crew executed precision filming under intense pressure, resulting in a groundbreaking cinematic experience.