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The Return of the Need for Speed
The director of ‘2022 Top Gun: Maverick, Joseph Kosinski, is once again embracing a world of adventure. This time, however, he will not be flying off the jet but will be driving the high-speed F1 racing car. Kosinski may be fiercely talented at directing movies that embody the movement and excitement of sports, but now, he is hoping to get his movie fans into the world of unique motor sports as he is releasing his new film F1 on June 27. Just as he brought unmatched realism and pulse-pounding energy to Maverick, he’s promising something equally immersive and dynamic with this new cinematic venture. However, while the theme of speed remains central, the execution and challenges of making F1 could not have been more different from his last blockbuster success.
Kosinski sees a clear link between fighter pilots and Formula One drivers. In his own words, “They are the rock stars of their own universe,” he explains, drawing attention to the parallel prestige and pressure that both professions carry. Much like pilots, F1 drivers push the limits of physics, chasing split-second advantages and precision at every turn. “Obviously,” he adds, “they both have a need for speed.” But beyond the obvious thrill factor, there’s an emotional and psychological intensity that defines both worlds. These are individuals who live on the edge, where confidence is key, and every mistake could be catastrophic. That essence—the rush, the rivalry, the relentless pursuit of greatness—is what Kosinski is eager to spotlight on screen.
A Different Kind of Shoot
Despite the thematic connection, Kosinski makes it clear that F1 presented entirely new filmmaking challenges. “On Top Gun, we were off on an aircraft carrier 100 miles off the coast,” he explains. That remote and controlled environment allowed the team to build out their scenes with patience and precision. In stark contrast, F1 was shot in the chaotic, unpredictable energy of real Formula One events. “This movie we shot in front of an audience of 400,000 people,” Kosinski reveals. That scale brought a unique set of limitations. He often had just a few minutes to capture scenes, relying on quick planning and execution. “There was a stage-play-esque vibe,” he says, highlighting how meticulous preparation was essential.
Ironically, it was Top Gun: Maverick that indirectly led Kosinski to F1. During the development of the aviation sequel, Kosinski connected with Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton to discuss a possible role for the driver in Maverick. Even after not working together due to the inherent limitations of collaboration, the shared interest between them still existed. Thus, on one of the monotonous days of quarantine, Kosinski found out about Drive to Survive, a Netflix docuseries that became popular due to the in-depth filming of the feverish Formula One games.
The director quickly became enthralled by the human dynamics of the sport, especially the tension between teammates. “I was fascinated by this notion that your teammate can be your biggest enemy,” Kosinski says. In a sport where the margins are razor-thin, rivalry is baked into every team. The narrative possibilities were too good to ignore. Inspired by what he saw, Kosinski emailed Hamilton with a proposition: “Hey, I’d love to make a movie in this world. Would you be interested in helping me?” To his delight, Hamilton said yes.
The Drama of Rivalry and Redemption
Now, four years later, the project born from that email exchange is gearing up for release. Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a renowned driver who met with an untimely fate due to a major crash in his career. Pitt’s character is not just about his comeback but is also about the exploration of many layers, such as fear and redemption. The narrative opens as Sonny is being approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes, played by Javier Bardem. Ruben presents Sonny with a bold offer: return to the racing world not as a competitor, but as a mentor. Ruben has a promising young driver under his wing—rookie sensation Joshua “Noah” Pearce, portrayed by Damson Idris.
Sonny’s job is to coach him, guide him through the high-stakes maze of Formula One, and prepare him to rise through the ranks. But in doing so, Sonny must also confront his own past—his crash, his ego, and the emotional scars that never fully healed. As Kosinski takes audiences behind the wheel, F1 is shaping up to be more than just a spectacle of roaring engines and sweeping aerial shots. It’s a film built on emotional stakes, human relationships, and the very personal price of excellence.
With Lewis Hamilton as a hands-on consultant, the film gains a level of authenticity that racing fans will no doubt appreciate. Kosinski isn’t just aiming to capture the mechanics of the sport—he’s diving into the mindset of those who risk everything for a tenth of a second. In a world where speed defines status and every teammate could be a rival, F1 promises an exhilarating blend of action and introspection. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of motorsports or simply in it for the storytelling, Kosinski’s latest film looks ready to deliver on every front.
Casting That Mirrors the Plot
The dynamic between Brad Pitt and Damson Idris in F1 isn’t just compelling on screen—it also carries symbolic weight that enriches the film’s underlying themes. In many ways, the casting reflects the core of the movie’s narrative: a veteran passing the torch to a rising talent. Brad Pitt, a household name for decades with countless major films under his belt, brings gravitas and star power to the role of Sonny Hayes, a seasoned driver returning to the track. On the flip side, Damson Idris plays Joshua “Noah” Pearce, the gifted young rookie who’s stepping into the pressure-cooker world of Formula One for the very first time.
Idris is known primarily for his lead role in FX’s Snowfall, a critically acclaimed show that ran for six seasons and showcased his range and intensity. The film’s director, Joseph Kosinski, had the need for a major star to secure the story way back. The kind of person that Sonny Hayes was – a person who was in his very own battle with the demons of a tragic accident while supporting a new talent – made Kosinski seek a contender with exposure on the screen and the depth of feelings.
He had worked with Pitt before and felt confident in his ability to carry the weight of the role. As for casting the part of Pearce, the process was far more rigorous. Idris had to apply for several auditions that were not only confined to the task of reading the lines or delivering the emotions. The final and most important part of the audition was about getting in a real racing car and driving it at high speed, which would be a challenge of not just his acting skills but also his physical coordination, focus, and learning on the go.
A Dream Ride Turned Reality
To Damson Idris, a 33-year-old, his involvement with the role seemed like being in a dream, especially the part of driving. When he was first at the race in 2018, Damson was already a big fan of the sport, but he could never have thought to be one day on the real track as part of a major Hollywood production. The opportunity alone was enough to inspire both awe and anxiety. “The feeling I felt before was absolute fear,” Damson Idris admits with refreshing honesty. He describes the moment before his first real track session as one filled with nerves and uncertainty.
And yet, by the end of that day, after pushing himself to speeds up to 180 miles per hour and circling professional-grade tracks across different global locations, he realized he was living a dream that he had never dared to visualize. Director Kosinski was adamant from the beginning that his actors wouldn’t rely on stunt doubles for the driving scenes. The leads should be the ones personally driving cars so that the film is as realistic and authentic as it can be. It was not just a matter of getting real—this was about reflecting the raw vibe and adrenaline of dangerous racing from the driver’s point of view.
“After reading scenes,” Kosinski explains, “we actually put him in a race car out at a track just north of London.” That particular location turned out to be Bedford Autodrome, a well-known testing facility in the UK. The goal was simple yet demanding: assess whether Idris had the foundational driving instincts and discipline necessary for the role. Over the course of the day, they put him through rigorous on-track evaluations, checking how well he could adapt to speed, steering control, and the mental endurance required behind the wheel.
Weathering the Unexpected
However, the test drive that was meant to determine Damson Idris suitability for the part wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. British weather had other plans. “It was crazy,” Idris said, as he told the story, with a hint of disbelief in his voice, “His voice was still shrouded in a kind of unbelief.” As the team was entering the track, overcast clouds showed up rapidly, and the rain started to fall. This was an ironic event – the day he was to prove his talent with a high-performance F-3000, the situation turned out to be quite dangerous.
Despite the extra difficulty, Idris didn’t give up. With the car cameras being right on the vehicle, he climbed in and went to the wet track to drive, and every single motion was captured on tape. It wasn’t just a test of driving—it was a test of grit. “A veritable trial of maturity, modesty, and tolerance,” he ponders, taking the example of how this wasn’t just about the role. It was about pushing through discomfort, managing fear, and embracing the discipline that real Formula One drivers live by every day.
After landing the role in F1, Damson Idris dove headfirst into the most physically demanding acting prep of his career. For the next seven months, he wasn’t memorizing lines or rehearsing scenes—he was on the track, learning how to command a race car like a professional. This wasn’t just casual training. It involved countless hours of laps, drills, and instruction to transform him from an actor into a convincing Formula One driver. Idris described how the track began to imprint itself on his mind. “You start to go to sleep and dream of the corners,” he explained, revealing just how deeply the repetition had wired the circuit into his subconscious.
An Unexpected Struggle
While Damson Idris found comfort in racing at speeds nearing 180 miles per hour, a much simpler task gave him serious trouble: starting the car. Despite his ease with maneuvering at breakneck speeds, it was the hand clutch system that nearly threw him off. “I was really good at driving at crazy speeds,” he said. “I was really good at driving around the track and doing all the crazy turns.” But getting the car started felt like learning to ride a bike all over again. The clutch, which required hand coordination instead of the usual foot technique, challenged his muscle memory. He laughed about the irony, admitting that his co-star Brad Pitt had no problem with it. “Brad was just exquisite at it,” Damson Idris said, impressed by how naturally the veteran actor handled the car. Eventually, once he figured it out, he was ready to go full throttle.
Contrary to what many would think, driving slowly in a Formula One car can be more dangerous than going fast. Idris learned this surprising truth from the film’s lead stunt driver, who told him that performance cars are built to run hot and fast. “The best thing the head stunt driver told me was that the slower you drive, the worse it is for the car,” Damson Idris explained. That insight changed how he approached the role and his driving. Slow cars don’t produce enough heat in the tires, which results in poor road grip and can even cause a crash. Therefore, although the public may find the speed only for fun, still, it is the component that influences both machines and road safety the most. This advice helped Idris not only take control of the car, but also understand the science behind it.
Earning Formula One’s Trust
One of the film’s biggest hurdles wasn’t casting or scripting—it was gaining the trust and cooperation of the real Formula One world. Director Joseph Kosinski knew that authenticity was everything, so he went straight to the source. The teams, mechanics, and organizations behind the scenes of F1 didn’t just agree to consult; they became part of the film itself. “We had a scene where every single team came out with all their mechanics,” Kosinski said. These crews staged pit stops for the cameras, working alongside the actors during actual race weekends. The production even secured a garage right on the pit lane, placing them directly beside real teams. Without this unprecedented access, the movie wouldn’t have achieved its hyper-realistic edge. It wasn’t just about realism—it was about respect for the sport and its people.
Filming at live Formula One events brought both amazing opportunities and strict limitations. Unlike a soundstage, where a scene can be shot multiple times, race events only allow for a few quick takes. “We would often have five to 10 minutes, a very, very short window, to shoot a scene,” Kosinski explained. The cast and crew had to be laser-focused, executing scenes perfectly with almost no room for error. “Only getting two or three takes is something that we’re not used to,” he said. It created a vibe more like a live theater production than a film shoot. Every detail had to be performed in advance, and everyone had to nail it under pressure. The process was intense, but it led to performances that felt spontaneous and raw—qualities that wouldn’t be possible in a traditional filming environment.
Under Pressure, They Delivered
With such limited time and high stakes, mistakes could have derailed everything, but they didn’t. Kosinski was genuinely impressed by the cast’s ability to deliver under pressure. “I was amazed at how few mistakes people made when it really counted,” he said. Something changes in a person’s brain when they know they only have one or two chances to get it right. That urgency creates a laser-sharp focus that fuels peak performance. The actors responded to this challenge with remarkable precision, and it gave the film a pulse of real-world intensity. Kosinski said this level of performance wouldn’t have happened on a typical set. Instead, it was the live element, the real audiences, and the genuine racing atmosphere that brought out everyone’s best.
The decision to shoot at real races and real locations was more than a stylistic choice—it was a creative mandate. Kosinski and his team wanted to immerse the audience completely in the world of Formula One, down to the smell of rubber and roar of the engines. By embedding the cast within live events, they captured sights, sounds, and emotions that simply can’t be faked. The adrenaline on screen mirrors the adrenaline on set, and Kosinski believes that makes all the difference. The crowd noise is real. The pit crews are real. Even the pressure the actors felt mirrors what real drivers experience. This approach gives the film a bold quality that entertains the viewers alongside the characters. It’s more than cinema, it’s an experience.
Real Drivers, Real Scenes
Director Joseph Kosinski brought in actual Formula One racers to feature as themselves in dialogues and action scenes, taking the reality factor even higher. A very remarkable moment was the exclusive footage of a podium celebration, which was filmed at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race shortly after the real race winners had been awarded their medals. The short time available added a flavor of thrill and rush to the scene. Kosinski’s ability to secure this access—and the support of the racing community—meant that every frame captured an authenticity rarely seen in sports films. However, even with this strong relationship with the F1 world, lead actors Damson Idris and Brad Pitt didn’t spend their off-hours hanging out with the drivers. There was a reason for that decision.
According to Idris, he deliberately kept his distance from the professional racers. It wasn’t a matter of unwillingness or arrogance; it’s about a strategic move to support his performance. “I purposefully didn’t become friends with them because I wanted to have the mentality that they are my competition,” he justified. By not forming personal bonds, he was able to maintain a psychological edge that mirrored his character’s own position as a newcomer trying to prove himself. This approach helped him channel the right emotional energy and stay grounded in the story’s competitive spirit. It was a form of method acting that gave Idris a sharper, more focused mindset—one necessary to portray a rookie stepping into a world of seasoned champions.
Suit Zipper Decisions
Still, there were times when Damson Idris couldn’t resist seeking advice from the pros. One such moment took place at the legendary Silverstone circuit during the filming of a national anthem sequence. Surrounded by real F1 drivers, Idris went through a moment of quiet anxiety and turned to his right. “Hey man, during the national anthem do you zip the suit or you unzip?” he asked. What he and Brad Pitt had done is they zipped their suits all the way up, without realizing that standing next to them were the professionals who had chosen the more laid back, open zipped look. This is just a little thing, but it shows the strict attention to details spent in harmonizing authenticity and performance. The little queries such as this were as important as they proved the film’s commitment and cultural distinctiveness within the world of motorsports.
Damson Idris also expressed deep gratitude for Lewis Hamilton’s influence throughout production. As both a producer on the film and a seasoned F1 champion, Hamilton brought an invaluable perspective. “He’d always come to set with such energy,” Idris recalled, describing Hamilton as a steady source of motivation and insight. For Idris, Hamilton wasn’t just a racing consultant—he was a mentor who helped him understand the mental discipline required to compete at the highest level. Learning about the emotional and psychological stamina needed for Formula One helped Idris fully embody his character, not just in the cockpit but in every dramatic scene. Hamilton’s energy, focus, and experience shaped the film in ways that reached far beyond the camera lens.
A Whole World Behind the Wheel
Kosinski made it quite clear that drivers are the masters of the race track, but not the only heroes in this saga. His main purpose with F1 was to throw a spotlight on the people who have been working hard quietly and behind the scenes so that every race can happen. “The film’s not just about the drivers,” he stated. “It’s all about the people in the background running the car—the engineers, the pit crew.” The film essentially is a sort of journey to a Formula One team, amidst the various trials and tribulations, creating a sheer spectacle for the audience.
For instance, when the film presents the people working backstage in the team—the ones that are adjusting the engine perfectly, the strategists that are making decisions for the day of the race, and the pit crew that is making really fast changes to the wheel—the story becomes more intricate, inclusive, and plausible, mainly because it is the product of the common effort of all of those involved in the process.
From the very beginning, Kosinski faced a storytelling challenge: how do you make a movie that satisfies both die-hard F1 fans and viewers who don’t know a throttle from a tire tread? “We had to make a film that worked for the F1 aficionado and at the same time played to someone who didn’t know anything about racing,” he explained. Balancing that dual audience required a smart blend of drama, character development, and technical excitement. Kosinski’s approach was to focus on human stakes—rivalries, mentorships, comebacks—while layering in just enough detail for fans of the sport to appreciate the realism. The result, he hopes, is a story that pulls viewers in regardless of their knowledge of the sport, giving everyone a reason to care.
America’s F1 Moment
While Formula One has long enjoyed massive popularity overseas, its U.S. fan base has only recently started to grow. Kosinski sees this film as an opportunity to accelerate that momentum. He noted that Formula One hasn’t nearly tapped its potential in the United States, pointing out that the sport’s thrilling speed, global flair, and high-stakes drama are perfectly suited for an American audience. He hopes that F1 will act as a gateway for curious newcomers, sparking interest in the sport’s strategy, personalities, and culture. For Kosinski, storytelling and sports promotion go hand-in-hand—and this movie is meant to bring the F1 world roaring into American consciousness.
Ultimately, F1 is more than just a racing movie. It’s a story of drive—both literal and metaphorical—crafted with the help of professionals on and off the track. With stars like Damson Idris and Brad Pitt giving everything to their roles, the support of real racing legends, and a director dedicated to capturing truth at 200 mph, the film promises to offer something exhilarating and deeply human. Kosinski hopes audiences not just get entertained, but inspired, and maybe even newly obsessed with the roaring world of Formula One. In every way, the film is a green flag for fans old and new to fall in love with racing.
