Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton actually teamed together to turn F1 The Movie into one of the biggest cinematic and sporting hits of 2025-26. A simple email from director Joseph Kosinski spiraled into a worldwide sensation, grossing over $631 million at the global box office, receiving four Academy Award nominations and forming one of Hollywood’s most iconic alliances.
F1 The Movie wasn’t just another racing film; it was a mash-up of real Formula 1 action, new filmmaking tech, true-to-life driving sequences and the talent from one of the all-time best drivers in motorsport. It was, in other words, a movie for long time Formula 1 fans while drawing millions of newcomers into the fold.
So here’s everything you need to know on Brad Pitt Lewis Hamilton F1 movie, how much box office it made, is the story a true one or friendship based with Oscar success and what’s in store for official sequel.
How Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton First Met
This all begins a little over six months after the record setting performance of Top Gun: Maverick which currently stands confirmed at nearly $1.5 billion worldwide. So when director Joseph Kosinski planned on making a similarly hardly-hitting film focusing on Formula 1.
In fact, one of the less obvious perks he enjoyed first was not a phone call from Brad Pitt; it was nuzzling the ear of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
Kosinski later revealed:
“I just sent him an email and was like, ‘I want to tell the story in your world. I endeavor to make it as true as I can. Will you help me?’ Luckily Lewis said yes.”
Hamilton had previously spoken about a possible appearance in Top Gun: Maverick but ultimately had to turn the call down because of racing commitments. For this project (however) he came on board as a co-producer, technical advisor and the authenticity guru for the filminstead of taking on any acting roles.
Apple Original Films, Warner Bros. Jerry Bruckheimer and the producer Jerry Bruckheimer under the Pictures) Present, with Brad Pitt Stars.
On October 2023, Hamilton signed on to produce the film through his production company Dawn Apollo Films reuniting with an impressive producing team that included:
- Brad Pitt
- Lewis Hamilton
- Joseph Kosinski
- Jerry Bruckheimer
- Jeremy Kleiner
- Dede Gardner
- Chad Oman
Hamilton’s mission was a straightforward one: make the most realistic Formula 1 movie ever made.
F1 The Movie: Plot, Cast and Never Before Unreal Formula 1 β αποκλειστική▶Roaming on F1 The Film
F1 The Movie was released abroad on June 25, 2025, and in North America on June 27 became one of the largest theatrical phenomena of the year.
Plot
Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a once-promising Formula 1 driver whose career came crashing down alongside his car in the 1990s, is the subject.
Years later, Hayes’s former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), now owner and manager of the fictional APXGP Formula 1 Team, convinces him to come back to racing.
He has to mentor the talented but obstinate rookie Joshua “Noah” Pearce (Damson Idris) and save the team from falling apart.
Supporting Cast
The supporting cast includes:
- Javier Bardem
- Damson Idris
- Kerry Condon
- Tobias Menzies
- Kim Bodnia
Real Formula 1 Filming Locations
One of the biggest feats the film accomplished was capturing action during actual Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends.
Instead of recreating races in studios, the production created a fully functional 11th Formula 1 team garage and pit wall complete with branding, enabling it to film alongside the real teams during Race Weekends through much of the 2023 and 2024 Formula 1 seasons.
Scenes were also filmed at some famous circuits:
- Silverstone
- Spa-Francorchamps
- Monza
- Hungaroring
- Abu Dhabi
Domenicali added that getting a Hollywood production onto live race weekends was only possible through “huge cooperation from every team”.
THE ROLE OF LEWIS HAMILTON WENT WELL BEYOND PRODUCING
The expectation among many people was that Lewis Hamilton would only attach his name to the project, however he did become one of its most creative voices.
Authenticity Above Everything
Hamilton went through a lot of the races.
He advised actors on:
- Correct braking points
- Gear changes
- Racing lines
- Overtaking techniques
- Defensive driving
- Blue flag procedures
- Driver behavior inside the cockpit
Joseph Kosinski said Hamilton gave detailed notes.
In one case, following the Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton told Pitt that if he wanted it to be as real-to-life as possible for his character in the Mercedes W14 to let another car through under blue flags, he’d do so only at Turn 6 — precisely where F1 drivers would have done.
Testing Brad Pitt’s Driving Ability
From rumours of the film’s development, Hamilton greeted Brad Pitt at a racetrack in Los Angeles before filming officially kicked off.
Hamilton later admitted:
“Oh my God, I wanted to see—can you actually drive?”
Fortunately, Pitt impressed him immediately.
Already an experienced motorcycle rider and racing fan, Pitt soon made it clear that he could wrangle bonkers performance cars just as easily.
Hamilton personally approved both:
- Brad Pitt
- Damson Idris
to drive the specially prepared race cars that were used in the course of filming.
They weren’t true Formula 1 machines but heavily modified Formula 2 and Formula 3 cars run by Mercedes fitted with new miniature, ultra-high-definition onboard cameras capable of transforming traditional in-car footage into breathtaking immersive video capable of running at speeds of up to 180 mph.
Hamilton also put Pitt “in the ride of his life” where he took him around a circuit in a real F1 car so he could experience what 200 mph really feels like.
Championing Diversity
Hamilton also used the project to further his work with his Hamilton Commission, to bring greater diversity in both on and off-camera talent.
His hope, was to help portray Formula 1 as a sport that is ‘ever-more inclusive, accessible and representative of its future.’
Oscar Glory and Box Office Records
F1 The Movie was released as the greatest sports flick of the decade.
Historic Box Office Performance
The film was extraordinarily commercially successful:
- Worldwide Opening Weekend: $144 million
- North American Opening: $55.6 million
- Worldwide Gross: Over $631–634 million
- Production Budget: Approximately $200 million
With an upward momentum, it would also ultimately become Brad Pitt’s biggest ever (beating out his previous record holder World War Z which had topped $540M worldwide).
Audience reception was equally impressive.
The film earned:
- Rotten Tomatoes, 97% Audience Score
- 84% Critics Score
- 7.7/10 IMDb rating
The critics love the realism, emotional storytelling, thrilling race sequences, and a cinematically immersive experience it brings to Formula 1 fans and moviegoers alike.
Oscar Recognition
The film received four Oscar nominations from the Academy in January 2026:
- Best Picture
- Best Film Editing
- Best Sound (Winner)
- Best Visual Effects
It also made Lewis Hamilton only one of a few professional athletes to become an Oscar-nominated producer.
Also, F1 The Movie was the first sports film nominated for Best Picture since 2004’s Million Dollar Baby, which represents a great stride forward for the genre.
Brad Pitt & Lewis Hamilton’s Friendship – Off-Screen
It took a turn from being work over the years into friendship.
Hamilton praised Pitt’s dedication:
“Brad is a humble guy. He really wanted to learn. He was in the simulator hours.
Brad Pitt reciprocated the sentiment by calling Hamilton:
“Lewis is the coolest, most diligent dude in the world. He is 200 mph, and he fights.
Both men have repeatedly touched upon themes that closely parallels the narrative of the film:
- Legacy
- Second chances
- Personal reinvention
- Leadership
- Mentorship
While filming at Silverstone for the 61st birthday of actor Brad Pitt, Hamilton presented a small cake on-set in the Formula 1 paddock to mark the occasion along with members of the Ferrari team. Clips showing the party soon spread rapidly over various social media platforms.
Since the film came out, Pitt and Hamilton have been spotted together at:
- Formula 1 race weekends
- Fashion events
- Charity functions
- Mission 44 initiatives
- Clooney Foundation for Justice events
The friendship has gone on to forge into one of the most celebrated links between Hollywood and professional sport.
F1 The Movie Sequel Get Official Announce for 2026
This means fans won’t have to wait too long for another continuation.
Lewis Hamilton in a press release before the 2026 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne stated that work on a follow up was already underway.
Hamilton revealed:
We are already in development with the initial script. I think the first meeting was around the time from about halfway through the second half of last year where me, Jerry and Joe brainstormed some ideas,” he revealed.
He also responded to expectations around sequels:
“Sequels often aren’t always great. Remembering, coming, you know? We’ve got a great team, great cast, great writer. So I’m not concerned. Take our time and create it exactly how it needs to be.”
Expected Returning Team
The followup is shaping up to include the reuniting of:
- Brad Pitt
- Damson Idris
- Joseph Kosinski
- Jerry Bruckheimer
- Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton should assume an even greater producing role, while still overseeing racing authenticity.
Brad Pitt, meanwhile, has been busy shooting Heart of the Beast (coming to theaters September 2026) and The Adventures of Cliff Booth — a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Conclusion
From Brad Pitt to Lewis Hamilton, Here Is Why Sports Movies Will Never Be the Same
Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton showed that a cinematic meld of Hollywood narrative and Formula 1 technique is potentially more than a traditional sports film. Their passion for gritty realistic films, boundary-pushing cinematography, and heart-warming narratives propelled F1 The Movie into a cult sensation that grew the worldwide audience of Formula 1 whilst generating unprecedented revenues.
From Joseph Kosinski’s first email to Hamilton, sending Brad Pitt down the track in a high-speed race car at over 180 mph, each phase of production showed an incredible dedication to authenticity. It was a winning partnership as the film grossed over $631 million worldwide, earned an Oscar nomination and turned in even better audience response numbers.
Now with an official sequel on the way, audiences can look forward to definitely more Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton collaborations with the creative team as they continue to redefine sports cinema. As Hamilton perfectly summarized:
It’s going to demolish anything that’s ever been done in Formula One before. ”
This collaboration not only redefined Formula 1 on film, but shows how authenticity, passion and collaboration create this worldwide blockbuster.
FAQ
Who are the main stars of F1 The Movie?
Brad Pitt stars in the film, while Lewis Hamilton serves as a co-producer, technical advisor and authenticity guru for the project.
When was F1 The Movie released?
F1 The Movie was released abroad on June 25, 2025, and in North America on June 27, 2025.
How much did F1 The Movie make at the box office?
The film grossed over $631–634 million worldwide.
Is Lewis Hamilton acting in the movie?
No. For this project he came on board as a co-producer, technical advisor and the authenticity guru for the filminstead of taking on any acting roles.
Will there be an F1 The Movie sequel?
Yes. Lewis Hamilton stated before the 2026 Australian Grand Prix that work on a follow up was already underway.
