Formula One team principals Zak Brown (McLaren), Christian Horner (Red Bull), and Oliver Oakes (Alpine) have offered their take on the potential impact of the highly anticipated film F1, set to release in June 2025, following the recent release of its official trailer.
Said to be another masterpiece by Top Gun: Maverick‘s director Joseph Kosinski, the F1-based movie is expected to offer fans the most realistic take on the sport in the most thrilling manner. The story is said to be based on a team on the verge of failure, followed by the return of an F1 veteran who races alongside a young talent played by Damson Idris.
Netflix’s Drive to Survive expanded F1’s fan base in the United States of America, but with a Hollywood blockbuster starring legendary actor Brad Pitt on the horizon, the sport is expected to reach new, untapped audiences across the globe.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was a co-producer of the movie, and his responsibility was to ensure every scene in the film remained in line with real-world Grand Prix racing. Filming also took place during actual race weekends to showcase the action most realistically.
F1‘s exciting trailer dropped online on the 14th of March, sparking buzz and boosting enthusiasm around the film. Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, the three Formula One team bosses were asked for their take on the upcoming film’s trailer. Brown compared the response to that of Top Gun, revealing that just as everyone wanted to be a fighter pilot after watching that film, he expects Brad Pitt’s role in F1 to have a similar impact on motorsports. He said:
“I think it’s going to create a lot more exposure for Formula 1. I think—if you think back to Top Gun—everyone wanted to be a fighter pilot and Tom Cruise after watching that movie. I think that’ll be the case with Brad Pitt and motor racing. So I think it’ll bring in some more fans, continue to bring in a more diverse fan base, a younger fan base. I think it’ll be great exposure for our sport.”
Horner predicts the film will offer outstanding exposure to the premier class of motorsport. He said:
“Yeah, it’s truly exciting. Jerry Bruckheimer just produces great movies. I think this movie—from what we’ve seen so far—puts Formula 1 on the big screen. The way they’ve played out the story, it interacts with the last couple of years of racing on track. In terms of the value added that it brings the sport, to our partners, to the brands associated with Formula 1, it puts it in front of yet another audience. I’m sure the storyline will fit all categories, but in terms of exposure for Formula 1, it’s outstanding. Looking forward to seeing it released, I think, in the summer of this year.”
Oakes spoke along similar lines, suggesting that the film will give Formula One access to a new audience base. He said:
“Yeah, I think it’s exciting for F1. I think a whole new audience will potentially get hooked on the sport. You could see it at the launch in London, as soon as they put a snippet on the screen, everybody was sort of excited and looking when it was coming out. Yeah, looking forward to it.”
F1 is set to release on June 25 (June 27 for North America).
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