F1: The Movie has started its worldwide theatrical release, drawing fans eager to experience this portrayal of Formula 1. Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton shared insights about the film’s creative origins, particularly the inspiration behind the lead character, Sonny Hayes.
Hamilton, serving as an executive producer, revealed how the 1970s F1 champion James Hunt influenced the script’s development. He explained that the movie’s writer sought to capture the essence of several iconic drivers from F1’s history, and Hunt’s persona notably shaped the main role.
Production challenges and filming locations
The production of F1: The Movie began in 2023 during the British Grand Prix. However, progress was temporarily halted due to a Hollywood strike, delaying filming until the year’s end after the racing season had mostly concluded. Throughout 2024, the crew was spotted filming at major circuits including Silverstone, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi, later showing those authentic scenes in cinemas.
The film’s official release in the United States is scheduled for June 27, providing a global audience the chance to watch the culmination of this carefully crafted project.
Behind the scenes: Hamilton’s role and the film’s development
Lewis Hamilton played a significant part not only in advising on the film’s storyline but also in helping bring the project to fruition. Joseph Kosinski, director and producer of the movie, had just finished Top Gun: Maverick when he approached Hamilton about producing an F1 film. Initially, Hamilton was considered for a role in Maverick, but racing commitments made that impossible.
“When we were working on the script, when we started talking about it four years ago, I mean, ultimately, Joe called me and told me that he was thinking about doing this movie, and he’s just finished off Maverick, and we were talking about me being in Maverick back then,”
Hamilton said during a press conference.
He also shared how connecting Kosinski with key Formula 1 figures like Stefano Domenicali and Greg Maffei helped move the project forward, creating a collaborative environment to develop the story and vision for the film.
The character of Sonny Hayes: a blend of F1 legends
Sonny Hayes, portrayed as a calm and composed veteran within the movie’s narrative, draws heavily from real-life F1 drivers’ personalities, especially James Hunt. Hamilton described the character as embodying the “cool, calm, good-looking” qualities that Hunt was known for during his era, mixing traits from various racing legends.
“I think he looked at a combination of many of those drivers, and I’ll say the James Hunt vibe was probably — I don’t know if that’s what he ultimately chose, but that’s the character I feel that resembles mostly to him: Very cool, calm, good-looking cat, and elder statesman within the team.”
—Lewis Hamilton, seven-time World Champion
Hamilton’s personal experience with the film’s premiere
Hamilton described his emotional reaction to the film’s premiere, highlighting the remarkable scale of Apple’s involvement and the excitement of seeing Brad Pitt’s image alongside Formula 1’s branding in Times Square. Despite having watched the movie multiple times during editing, Hamilton stayed to experience the audience’s reactions live during the premiere, which he found unforgettable.
“I was literally like, ‘I’ve seen it already, so I’m gonna leave and go to dinner.’ But then I decided to stay, and I watched this whole thing with everybody. And to see everyone’s reactions through it was one of the coolest things.”
—Lewis Hamilton, seven-time World Champion
How the film reflects Formula 1’s history and fans’ perspectives
While some motorsport critics have pointed out factual inconsistencies in F1: The Movie, Hamilton emphasized that the film is meant to be an homage to the sport’s most memorable figures and moments rather than a documentary. The screenplay incorporates elements inspired by historic drivers such as James Hunt and Ayrton Senna, blending real racing events with dramatized sequences, including intense crash scenes that echo past incidents.
The movie’s worldwide release introduces audiences to a stylized but heartfelt portrayal of Formula 1, capturing both its glamour and danger through a narrative lens shaped by drivers’ legacies and Hamilton’s own insights.
Upcoming availability and global audience anticipation
With the film now available in theaters across the globe, fans worldwide can experience this thrilling depiction of Formula 1. The official U.S. release on June 27 promises to reach an even wider audience, marking a significant moment in how the sport is represented on the big screen. Hamilton’s involvement, both as an executive producer and as a source of inspiration, highlights the importance of authentic connection between the racing community and cinematic storytelling.
