Formula 1 drivers and team bosses shared strong early reactions in Monaco to the debut screening of Brad Pitt’s new racing film.
Media day began in Monaco, and the first topic of discussion was naturally the drivers’ reactions to the film F1, which was shown to them yesterday in a private screening at a cinema in the Principality.
As previously reported, 18 of the 20 drivers attended, with the exceptions being Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll.
Both drivers were asked about their absence, with Max Verstappen opting instead for an online simulator session.
Verstappen Prioritises Family Time
“I informed FOM well in advance that I wouldn’t be there that evening. They were aware. I simply wanted to spend more time at home. It wasn’t a mandatory event—it was just my private time. And I prefer to spend that private time at home, especially since in Formula 1, we’re already away from home so often.”
“Wanting to spend more time at home these days is pretty normal, I think. Now that the family is growing, I definitely prefer to be at home more.”
As for Lance Stroll, “I just had things to do. I’ll see it at some point.”
For the drivers who did see the film, here are their first reactions:
Leclerc Praises Film’s Brilliance
Charles Leclerc: “It was really great. Honestly, I walked into that cinema not knowing what to expect. We know this sport so well that we tend to overanalyze everything, and I had no idea about the storyline. The narrative is really brilliant, and the visuals are just incredible. The team’s work to get different angles, ones we never see on track, is truly amazing. I absolutely loved it.”
Ocon Hails ‘F1’ as Motorsport’s Best Film
Esteban Ocon: “Honestly brilliant. I’ve never seen such immersive footage from inside the car. Of course, I know what it’s like in real life, but in the film, you really feel the speed and the story is super entertaining, which made it a lot of fun to watch.”
“I got to see myself driving several times with Sonny, and it was sometimes very close! I really liked that too. At times, you can really tell that Lewis (who helped produce the film) made an effort to keep things very realistic, though there were also moments where a bit of Hollywood flair was added.”
“The film needs to grab everyone’s attention, and I would have liked to see a few more racing-focused elements, maybe fewer crashes and more actual racing.”
“Honestly, a beautiful film in the end. Congrats to F1, congrats to the whole team and all the producers who worked on it. I think it’s truly fantastic, and without a doubt the best motorsport film I’ve ever seen.”
Norris Applauds Inspiring F1 Story
Lando Norris: “I was brilliant in it, and that was the main thing! It was a really good film, with a great story—I’m not sure what I’m allowed to say! It was an exciting story, an inspiring one, with lots of different meanings. But an exciting story and a big source of inspiration for young people getting into it.”
Gasly Celebrates F1 Immersion
Pierre Gasly: “Magnificent—it was really great to be able to see it for the first time. I think the audience will enjoy it; it’s a true immersion into our world of Formula 1—not only for us as drivers, but for everyone involved in the sport. I’m sure the public will appreciate it. It’s an excellent production, and it’s quite fun to be in a movie!”
Hülkenberg Embraces Hollywood Perspective
Nico Hülkenberg: “I think it’s cool. It gave us some insights. Compared to Drive to Survive, you get to see more of what goes on behind the scenes. So yes, we’ll see how people like it. It’s Hollywood, right? It’s a movie. You need to take a step back and look at it from a broader perspective. It’s not about every single detail being accurate, but I still think it offers a fresh and original angle.”
“Telling the audience what teams and drivers do, what gets invested—yes, it helps build a more complete picture. I also think there are some good actors in it.”
“I found it funny that Brad Pitt, at 61 years old, is playing Sonny Hayes. He’s my role model now. That’s my new goal!”
Sainz Sees Hollywood Upside
Carlos Sainz: “I really enjoyed it. I think for us, the F1 insiders, we’ll see things similar to what we sometimes notice with Netflix’s Drive to Survive. You can tell there’s a bit of a Hollywood touch. I’m convinced that for new fans, it will attract a fresh audience. It’ll be a hit with people who don’t know anything about F1.”
“For the die-hard fans, journalists, and ourselves, we’ll notice things that might seem a little too American or too Hollywood. But honestly, I enjoyed the overall result; some things genuinely surprised me. The team did a great job in making what I think is a very good Hollywood film—but let’s see what the public thinks.”
“They also told us: ‘We love your sport, we’re in love with your sport, but we’re in Hollywood.’ I said: OK. That’s not a problem as long as it brings in new fans and isn’t misleading.”
“Apparently, they surveyed many people who had never watched a Formula 1 race. After seeing the film, they asked: ‘Would you watch a Formula 1 race now?’ And 100% of them said yes. That shows how much I think this will benefit the sport. Maybe I’m completely wrong, but I think it’s going to do a lot of good.”
Bearman Backs F1 Spectacle
Oliver Bearman: “I thought the film was fantastic. It really portrays what we go through, but with a Hollywood twist, as you’d expect. It’s going to make people want to watch F1, which is really the goal. The onboard footage and the work they did were truly incredible—it was impressive to see the technology they could use. There were some funny scenes, but that was part of the plan. Of course, some parts aren’t entirely accurate… like the classic scene where they’re side by side on the straight and suddenly the other driver upshifts. But that’s a typical movie thing, and I think it’s what makes it really captivating for the audience. A small minority of us might find that a bit unrealistic, but I think for the majority, it’ll be a fantastic film.”
Alonso Praises F1 Representation
Fernando Alonso: “I liked the film. I think it represents Formula 1 quite well, which is never guaranteed with this kind of movie. It’s a good thing for our sport because hopefully, everyone will want to watch a Formula 1 race after seeing the film. It’s not a documentary—it’s still a movie—so there were a few inaccuracies, but I would say that almost all of the on-track action was very original and very representative, so that was a good thing.”
Lawson Predicts F1 Hit
Liam Lawson: “I think it’s going to be a huge success when it comes out; it has the potential to be one of the most popular films of the year. It perfectly captures the atmosphere of Formula 1, and that’s really amazing. I wasn’t really driving during most of the filming, so I was surprised to be featured. I didn’t know what to expect. I imagine that someone discovering F1 through this film will find it incredible. You can always be critical, but it’s a movie at the end of the day, and I’m sure it’s the same with Top Gun. I’m sure if you’re a fighter pilot and you watch a film like that, you’ll spot things you see differently.”
Hadjar Sees F1 Growth
Isack Hadjar: “I find it strange to watch a film about Formula 1. It felt a bit odd, and I think it’s going to push the sport into another dimension. I think it’s going to give even more exposure to the discipline, which is great. It’s hard to give an opinion as a driver, because we’re very critical, but for a young person or someone who doesn’t know the sport, I think it’s the best way to get into it.”
Albon Praises Balanced Approach
Alex Albon: “I think they struck a good balance. It’s hard not to analyze everything closely and just relax and watch the movie as a movie. I think they did a good job for Hollywood.”
Bortoleto Welcomes New Fans
Gabriel Bortoleto: “It’ll be a great introduction for people who don’t yet know the sport well. For us drivers, we live it every day, so we know every detail… but for those unfamiliar with Formula 1, they’ll be able to learn and get involved with us.”
Hamilton Proud of F1 Film
Lewis Hamilton: “First of all, it wasn’t the first time I saw it—I’d already seen it about twenty times since I’ve been helping with the production. For me, it was an incredible opportunity to work with Joe and Jerry, to learn from them, to see what it takes to make a film starting from the very first script, which was just 30 pages long, and then see it turn into a full story, trying to keep it as authentic as it is.”
“But as Jerry said when speaking with all the drivers and teams—it’s still Hollywood, right? So, seeing it finally come to life after all the work that went into it, and then yesterday, with all the drivers there, I was sitting in the middle, and I was nervous. Everyone was seeing it for the first time, and it was great to look around and see the reactions—especially from the drivers.”
“I really care about the drivers’ opinions, and I want them to be truly happy with it. I even told them I wanted their honest feedback, because there are definitely moments where you might say, ‘Hey, the timing is off during that pit stop,’ or something like that. But I think the highlight is that the sound is excellent, the visuals are incredible, and it’s something never seen before, so I’m really proud of it.”
Russell Enjoys F1 Cameos
George Russell: “As an F1 fan, it’s kind of funny to see ourselves popping up here and there with Brad Pitt. I think it really struck a good balance, and I think the drivers enjoyed seeing us be part of the action.”
Piastri Notes Impressive Accuracy
Oscar Piastri: “There are certain things that, if you don’t follow F1 closely, you won’t be able to tell whether they’re real or not. And I think everyone involved in F1 will be at least somewhat satisfied with how accurate all the little details are.”
Kimi Antonelli: “It was long but very well done!”
Reactions Also Came from Team Principals and F1 Leadership
Of course, it wasn’t just the drivers who gathered for the private screening in Monaco—Formula 1 team principals were also in attendance. And given their attention to detail in this sport, they might have been even harder to impress.
Horner Calls Film Must-Watch
Christian Horner said he “found the film excellent. We’re probably the worst possible audience for a film like this because we watch and scrutinize every detail, every gear shift, every pit stop—and it was very authentic. The way they integrated the film with the drivers and the teams makes it a must-watch.”
“It’s great to see Formula 1 portrayed so compellingly, and it was very well executed. The research was clearly done, and you can tell they really took the time to understand the sport. I think it’s an excellent way to explain it to people who don’t know Formula 1. Watch this film—it’s a fantastic introduction to the sport.”
Vowles Praises Authentic F1 Spirit
James Vowles said he “found it absolutely fantastic—they really did a great job staying true to who we are and how we race. I judge films based on the number of goosebump moments I experience; I had three or four that were brilliant build-ups and ended fantastically.”
“For me, they delivered on their promise: capturing what I believe makes our sport so special, in a way the whole world can understand, and wrapping it all into a fantastic film. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
“Thankfully, my appearance was brief! I love this sport—that’s why I’ve made it my life—and having the opportunity to be part of this was really meaningful to me.”
Domenicali Hails Historic Achievement
Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, saw the screening as the culmination of a project years in the making.
“I’m very proud and very grateful to the F1 community, which, without having seen the final result until today, understood what was behind it.”
“I want to thank Jerry [Bruckheimer] and Joe [Kosinski], Apple and Warner Bros. It’s been an incredible journey that began in February 2021 with a visit to my office in London. It feels like yesterday, but the work has been intense.”
“I really want to thank everyone in our ecosystem, because the production was challenging, and this is the first time there’s been such integration between a film and real track action. I think the result is incredible. I love it—I love the story, the music, the pace—so I can’t wait to see the final reaction from the public.”
“It’s amazing—you’d never think this was possible, but we did it. I believe, and we believe, that it will take us to another level, and now it’s up to us to manage that. But it’s simply incredible, and I can’t wait to see people watching it and talking about it—not just about Brad, not just about the movie—but about Formula 1 itself.”
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