F1 The Movie promises an immersive and authentic movie-going experience, and that largely stems from the generous access that was given to the film by Formula 1 and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
It’s no secret that Brad Pitt and the rest of the crew shot parts of the film at actual races during the 2023 season. The fictional APXGP F1 team was even given its own garage at certain circuits, and film crews were seen at multiple race weekends. To the joy of film buffs, racing fans, and the movie crew themselves, Pitt and co-star Damson Idris were also able to slot into formation laps, with their modified F2 cars and camera rigs that were used in the film.
Pitt expressed his joyful gratitude: “They were so giving and opened up all their doors... We were able to shoot on race weekends, shoot on podiums, shoot during the national anthem. We had our own garage. We even shot on our pit wall while the races were going on.”
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The gratitude Pitt and the cast and crew share is based on a great respect for the sport. On shooting during race weekends and on the track itself, Pitt shared: “We were on hallowed ground... It was very humbling, stepping into a sport that is so revered and treated like religion. We just wanted to make sure we didn’t get in anyone’s way, where we could tell our story and while they focused on what they needed to do.”
At the helm of this respect was film project lead and executive producer Tim Bampton. Having previously worked on big sets like Top Gun: Maverick, which used multiple decommissioned fighter jets and military facilities, Bampton is no stranger to managing big-budget sets outside the safety of a soundstage. He then made it a point not to interfere with the race weekend program, to keep the authenticity and integrity of the sport.
“After painstaking planning, many rehearsals and walkthroughs, and talking with the FIA, everyone was confident that it would not compromise the second principle of not interrupting the sporting spectacle or compromising the integrity of the sporting competition,” said Bampton.
The involvement of the fans was also crucial in capturing the spectacle of an F1 weekend. Hollywood legend and executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer lauded the fans that got to witness filming, saying: “When there’s a huge crowd watching our actors and our cars lined up with all of the great drivers and great teams of F1, it sends a chill down your spine. It was really something special.”
Like a Formula 1 car, shooting the movie required several components to work together, even just for a five-minute sequence. Without the support of Formula 1 and the FIA, filming this intimately wouldn’t have been possible, as director Joseph Kosinski shares: “There’s no way we could have made this film without the tight partnership with Formula 1, and the access they gave us was more than I ever could have dreamed of.”
F1 The Movie is now showing in Philippine cinemas nationwide. You can also check out the official trailer below.
