Apple Original Films has officially kicked off F1 The Movie in theaters, with a star-studded cast featuring Brad Pitt, Kerry Condon, Damson Idris, director Joseph Kosinski, and producer Jeremy Kleiner. With a blend of Hollywood pedigree and motorsport authenticity, the highly anticipated film promises to deliver an adrenaline-charged cinematic experience unlike anything audiences have seen before.
Directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski and produced by Hollywood powerhouses Jerry Bruckheimer and Lewis Hamilton, F1 The Movie was filmed during real Grand Prix weekends, using actual Formula 1 cars and capturing the roar of live crowds. LRM was able to attend a press conference earlier this month and got to learn about what it took to make the cinematic experience.
Behind the Wheel of Innovation
Kosinski revealed during the conference that the journey to bring this film to life began with a phone call to none other than seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton. “When I got the green light, Lewis was my first call,” said Kosinski. “I knew if we were going to do this, we had to do it for real, and do it right.”
To make that vision possible, the production team developed a groundbreaking camera system, an evolution of the one used on Top Gun: Maverick, that could be mounted directly onto F1 cars. “It’s smaller, lighter, and could withstand the speed and force of the cars,” Kosinski explained. “We shot this in the middle of actual race weekends. That energy you can’t fake it.”
The Road to Realism
Both Brad Pitt and Damson Idris underwent intensive training to get behind the wheel of real F1 cars. Idris trained in California using a professional simulator, and the Hollywood actors found an unexpected upside during last year’s writers strike, it gave them extra time to sharpen their driving skills. “We just kept training and getting better,” Idris said.
Pitt shared his awe of the real life drivers: “The level of control, precision, and guts these athletes have… It’s unbelievable. I have so much respect for them now.”
Lewis Hamilton, who serves as a producer on the film, wasn’t just behind the scenes, he was also instrumental in maintaining the film’s authenticity. “Lewis would call us out when something didn’t feel right,” said Idris. “He was always making sure it stayed true to the sport.”
Grit, Glory, and Redemption
Producer Jeremy Kleiner emphasized that at its core, F1 The Movie is about more than speed. “It’s a story of redemption and resilience,” Kleiner said. “It’s about fighting your way back when the world has counted you out.”
That theme plays out through Brad Pitt’s character Sonny Hayes, a once-promising F1 driver from the ’90s whose career was derailed by a tragic crash. Thirty years later, he’s offered one last chance at glory when he’s recruited by a failing team led by Javier Bardem’s Ruben Cervantes. Teaming up with rising star Joshua Pearce (played by Idris), Hayes must not only face the brutal competition of the sport, but also the ghosts of his past.
Life in the Fast Lane
Actress Kerry Condon, who also stars in the film, spoke about the intense lifestyle of F1 teams. “I didn’t realize how relentless the travel schedule is,” she said. “There’s barely time to breathe before they’re off to the next race.”
That realism was important to the film’s creators, who sought to capture not only the drama on the track but the dedication, fatigue, and emotion behind the scenes of the world’s fastest sport.
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A Cast and Crew in Pole Position
F1 The Movie boasts a stellar cast, including Tobias Menzies, Kim Bodnia, and Javier Bardem. Ehren Kruger penned the screenplay, with award winning composer Hans Zimmer scoring the film. Behind the camera, cinematographer Claudio Miranda and production designers Mark Tildesley and Ben Munro help bring Kosinski’s vision to life.
As the engines rev and anticipation builds, F1 The Movie promises a cinematic experience that’s as thrilling as the sport itself crafted by filmmakers and racers united by a love of speed, story, and spectacle.
F1 The Movie races into theaters today June 27, 2026.
