The Lewis Hamilton-produced F1 movie starring Brad Pitt has captured global attention, surpassing $500 million in box office revenue while receiving overall positive reviews. Despite this success, Fernando Alonso, a seasoned Formula 1 driver, has downplayed the film’s impact, focusing instead on his racing performance during the ongoing 2025 season with Aston Martin.
Fernando Alonso’s Perspective on Lewis Hamilton’s F1 Film and Fan Reactions
Fernando Alonso, who has competed in Formula 1 since 2001 with a break between 2018 and 2021, is among the most experienced figures on the current grid. He secured two world championship titles in 2005 and 2006, establishing himself as a leading veteran in the sport. Reflecting on Lewis Hamilton’s high-budget F1 film, Alonso expressed indifference toward the opinions of newer fans, stating his priority is winning races and supporting his team’s development rather than engaging with the sport’s expanding audience influenced by the movie.
Alonso emphasized this stance by highlighting the difference in perspectives between veteran drivers like himself and newer viewers drawn in by the film. He noted that neither he nor fellow driver Nico Hulkenberg paid much attention to what the next generation of fans thought about the sport.
“I don’t think Nico or I care too much about what the next-generation fans think. We only try to win races, try to work with our team the best we can, and deliver the performance.”
—Fernando Alonso, as reported by RacingNews365
He further elaborated that fans following Formula 1 from home might not grasp the full extent of performance disparities among the cars on the grid, underlining the complexities hidden behind televised broadcasts.
“The fans and the people outside watching TV, don’t have the full picture of what is going on and the difference in performance between the cars.”
—Fernando Alonso
Alonso’s Remarks on New Generation Fans and His Focus Amidst Challenges
Amid a difficult 2025 season where Alonso currently sits 11th in the championship standings, the driver addressed the fluctuating perceptions of newer fans. He observed that when he struggles, many presume his prime is behind him, but their opinions would quickly shift if his results improved substantially. Alonso humorously suggested that if he or Hulkenberg began winning consistently, those same fans might attribute their success to unrealistic or magical explanations rather than the true nature of Formula 1 racing.
“So, if next year Nico and I have a winning car and we win eight consecutive races and fight for the championship, then they will think that we ate something different in winter or had a different training programme and we learned how to drive in the winter. This is not really the reality.”
—Fernando Alonso
Insights on Formula 1’s Reality Versus Theatrical Portrayals
Alonso’s comments underline a broader disconnect between the perceived drama of Formula 1 as depicted in cinema and its real-world intricacies. While the film succeeded in attracting untapped audiences and spotlighting the sport’s appeal worldwide, veterans like Alonso remain focused on the technical and strategic demands that define actual racing. The diversity of opinions among current drivers about the film reflects this divide between entertainment and the sport’s operational realities.
Lewis Hamilton’s efforts in producing the film have certainly contributed to increasing Formula 1’s visibility and popularity. Additionally, there are hints from the directors about a possible sequel, indicating that this cinematic exploration of the sport might continue to engage wider audiences in the future.
What This Means for Formula 1 and Its Audience
The evolving relationship between long-standing competitors like Fernando Alonso and the expanding fanbase influenced by media such as Lewis Hamilton’s F1 film highlights the sport’s growth and challenges. Alonso’s focus on racing results rather than popular sentiment reflects a priority to maintain competitive excellence amid the sport’s ongoing transformation. As Formula 1 continues to attract new viewers, balancing entertainment with the complexity of high-level competition remains a key challenge.
Meanwhile, fans can expect further developments in both the sport and related media projects, as the momentum generated by the film potentially leads to new formats attracting future generations to the world of Formula 1.
