Lewis Hamilton Reveals the Truth Behind His Four-Year F1 Film Project

Going slow has never been Lewis Hamilton’s style. The seven-time world champion has built his legacy on speed, split-second decisions, and relentless ambition. But his latest off-track challenge, the feature film F1, produced by his company Dawn Apollo Films, proved to be something entirely different. 

The project took four full years to complete, something Hamilton admits he never anticipated when he signed on as producer and creative partner. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, with Brad Pitt and Damson Idris in starring roles, the film set out to do two things: capture the most authentic on-screen depiction of motorsport ever attempted, and bring F1 storytelling to a broader American audience. 

“When I signed up, I didn’t know it was gonna be four years. I didn’t know how long it would take,” Hamilton told Vanity Fair. As someone used to constant momentum, the long creative process forced him to adjust. “I’ve not been on many other sets, but it felt more personal. Perhaps the new generation of kids will be growing up watching racing.”

A High-Stakes Film With Record-Breaking Success

While the wait was long, the payoff was enormous. F1 became one of the highest-grossing sports films of 2025, earning $189.53 million domestically and $631.33 million internationally. Its global reach reflected the sport’s growing popularity and the film’s commitment to racing realism, something Hamilton personally oversaw with the production team. 

From on-track sequences filmed at real Grand prix to the involvement of actual teams and drivers, the movie leaned heavily on Hamilton’s expertise. His influence helped shape everything from cockpit camera angles to how drivers communicate under pressure, details that motorsport fans immediately recognized as authentic.