The upcoming F1 film starring Oscar-winning actor Brad Pitt has already created hype amongst all fans. The movie has received the backing of 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton who is one of the producers of the movie.
The movie will be the first Hollywood film based on Formula 1 since 2013’s Rush. However, unlike the movie based on Niki Lauda and James Hunt’s rivalry, the movie will not be based on historic events.
The movie is set to be based on the modern world of F1. It follows a racer who comes out of retirement and his challenges with a younger upcoming driver.
Lewis Hamilton backed the movie to be filmed during Silverstone GP
With the backing of Hamilton in production, Formula 1 has stepped up its contribution to the movie. The sport has agreed for the filmmakers to shoot parts of the film at various venues during race weekend.
The first of which will be held at the 2023 British GP from July 7th to 9th. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali claimed this would be the first time a movie will be truly integrated with the sport.
He said, “ We’re going to start the shooting in Silverstone very soon. It will be the first movie where basically they will be within the racing event.” However, the presence of the camera crew in the paddock and team garages, especially during race day, has brought criticism from teams.
Teams have objected that the filming could interfere with their activities. Domenicali agrees that there will be logistical issues and discomfort for teams. However, it shows the true spirit of the sport and will benefit everyone in the end.
Domenicali said, “It will be quite invasive. In terms of production, it’s something that we need to control in a way, but it will be another way of showing that Formula 1 never stops.”
‘Drive To Survive’ is not enough for Formula 1
The untitled F1 movie is almost done with its pre-production phase. Just a few weeks back upcoming actor Damson Idris was cast in a role that’s based on Hamilton.
The attention to the movie has drawn skeptics to question the sport’s approach. Many consider F1 is interested in being an entertainment business than a sport, in order to attract an American fanbase. However, Domenicali claims the movie will have a positive impact on the sport in the long run.
Domenicali said, “When we started the collaboration with Netflix, the community said ‘What’s going on? This is not our place to be.’ And now we understand the power of it.”
Drive To Survive has been a massive hit that has generated a lot of interest in the sport. Particularly from the US which is F1’s biggest market now. But, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei believes relying entirely on the Netflix docuseries is not enough.
Domenicali added, “We added a very strong presence with social media, making sure that all our drivers and teams are very active in promoting the sport. And that’s another tool with the movie they’re going to be producing.”
The project has also received support from Apple CEO Tim Cook. It will be directed by “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joe Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. The date of release is expected to be late 2024 or early 2025 according to Insider.
