Director asserts that F1 movie's creation was impossible without involvement of Hamilton.
Revised Base Article:
Montreal vibes intact, Brad Pitt's petrol-headed cinematic adventure, "F1", is poised to tear up the screens next month, thanks in large part to none other than Lewis Hamilton. Speaking recently during the Canadian Grand Prix, director Joseph Kosinski candidly shared the secrets behind the collaboration.
Scheduled for a June 25 release internationally and June 27 in North America, this Apple Original film, with hair-raising action sequences filmed during actual race weekends in collaboration with Liberty Media-owned Formula One, is set to leave audiences breathless.
With Hamilton switching teams this season, swapping Mercedes for Ferrari, his role became pivotal. The 40-year-old speedster is credited as a producer, with his Dawn Apollo production company also stepping in. Kosinski reminisced about how Hamilton was the first person he reached out to with the idea of a movie.
"I fired off an email and said, 'I want to tell your story in your world. I want it to be as authentic as possible. Will you help me?" he shared, beaming with gratitude that Lewis responded with a resounding yes. As it turns out, Lewis had earlier expressed interest in playing a role in another film, "Top Gun Maverick", but had to forgo it due to racing commitments.
Hamilton served as an informal go-between, facilitating communication with Formula One, and even offered technical guidance to ensure accuracy and realism. Hamilton's keen eye for detail was invaluable; for instance, he suggested to Pitt that if he wanted to let someone pass during a blue flag in a particularly close call, it would only happen at turn six, a nuance only a seven-time world champion living and breathing Formula One could discern.
But Hamilton's contributions extended beyond the technical aspects. He also had a say in crafting the story, inspiring a scene in which Pitt's character articulates the spiritual significance of racing. Kosinski emphasized, "His involvement has been amazing. We couldn't have made the film without him."
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer even applauded Hamilton's attention to sonic accuracy, citing an instance at Silverstone where the Briton pointed out an audio inconsistency — a corner that was taken in second gear, but the audio suggested fourth gear. According to Bruckheimer, "It's that kind of detail that went into this."
Ultimately, Hamilton believes "F1" will be "the most authentic racing movie ever made." Formula One is confident that this collaboration, coupled with the success of the Netflix docu-series "Drive to Survive," will elevate their sport's global appeal and especially their standing in the lucrative U.S. market, where there remains plenty of untapped enthusiasm.
As Kosinski put it, "There's this perception that 'Drive to Survive' shook up America with Formula One, but there are still countless individuals out there who are unaware of the sport. So there's a lot of potential yet to be tapped."
- The collaboration between director Joseph Kosinski and Lewis Hamilton on the upcoming movie "F1" extends beyond the technical aspects, as Hamilton has also contributed to creating a scene that highlights the spiritual significance of racing in the film.
- While Lewis Hamilton had expressed interest in playing a role in "Top Gun Maverick," he had to forego it due to racing commitments, but his contributions to the production of "F1" have been instrumental, especially in ensuring sonic accuracy, such as pointing out an audio inconsistency during filming at Silverstone.
