Lewis Hamilton and Apple CEO Tim Cook Open Up About 'F1' Movie Collaboration

Newsweek

8 hours ago

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Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and Apple CEO Tim Cook have opened up about their involvement in the making of the F1 movie, which is set to release next week.
Featuring Hollywood icon Brad Pitt as a veteran F1 driver who returns to an underdog team to mentor a young driver played by Damson Idris, the movie promises a cinematic experience loaded with drama and edge-of-your-seat racing.
The involvement of co-producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director of 'Top Gun: Maverick,' Joseph Kosinski, adds more confidence to the idea that the movie will depict authentic F1 action.
(L-R) Brad Pitt, Lewis Hamilton, Tim Cook, and Damson Idris attends the World Premiere of F1® The Movie in Times Square on June 16, 2025 in New York City.
(L-R) Brad Pitt, Lewis Hamilton, Tim Cook, and Damson Idris attends the World Premiere of F1® The Movie in Times Square on June 16, 2025 in New York City.for Warner Bros. Pictures
Executive producer Hamilton was entrusted with the job of ensuring viewers experienced an action-packed blockbuster that portrayed F1 realism. The Briton worked with the crew during filming to ensure the movie showcased the sport in the most authentic way.
Filming was also carried out on actual race weekends with real F1 cars and drivers to ensure it didn't look fake in any way. Pitt and Idris drove at high speeds in special F2 cars that were designed to look like F1 cars. Speaking about his role, Hamilton said in an interview with Reuters Television:
"I really wanted to make sure the authenticity was there, and it worked for both the younger and the older audience, and then making sure that the racing was true to what it is.
"All the other drivers, all the teams, are relying on me to make sure that it does."
Hamilton even went to the extent of ensuring that Pitt was race-ready before filming commenced. While he did prove that he had racing DNA, Pitt had to undergo further training to blend into his role. The Ferrari F1 driver continued:
"I really wanted to see, can you actually drive? He already had the knack. He really went in deep."
Newsweek Sports previously reported how custom iPhone cameras were used to capture onboard racing footage. Producing partner Apple went a step further to ensure the cameras replicated broadcast cameras on the cars. Tim Cook hinted that plenty of resources were pressed into action at Apple to ensure the cameras produced footage that met the expectations of the production team. He said:
"This movie was just a great example of putting the whole of the company behind a movie. We designed the camera that went into the car to capture the incredible driving experience. It makes you feel like you're actually sitting in the car and experiencing what Brad is experiencing."
F1 will premiere on June 25 and June 27 in North America.