Williams team principal James Vowles has confirmed that the production team behind the upcoming “F1 the Movie,” co-produced by Lewis Hamilton, made a payment to Williams for using their facilities. Several scenes were filmed in the Williams wind tunnel located at the Grove base.
The film, scheduled for release on June 27, 2025, is an American sports drama directed by Joseph Kosinski with a screenplay by Ehren Kruger. It features a star-studded cast led by Brad Pitt, who plays an APXGP driver.
Other prominent actors include Damson Idris as an APXGP rookie driver, Kerry Condon portraying the technical director of APXGP, Tobias Menzies as a board member, and Javier Bardem as an APXGP team owner. Kosinski and his team preferred authentic settings for certain film sequences, leading them to utilize Williams’ wind tunnel.
Regarding the collaboration, James Vowles explained the choice to use the real environment rather than a film set:
“They approached us, because they could have done a [film] set from what I understood, but actually wanted to replicate or be in exactly the environment. “It’s quite difficult for us nowadays to effectively extract everything that we need to [for Williams’ work in the wind tunnel], stop our programs and bring them in.” —James Vowles, Williams Team Principal
He also added details about the wind tunnel’s operational limitations during filming:
“There’s a limited number of [wind tunnel] ‘fan on’ time, so you can work around that. It is disruptive, but it was for a really important project. There was a payment, but we didn’t make any money out of it.” —James Vowles, Williams Team Principal
The premiere event was held on June 16 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, attracting not only the film’s stars like Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton but also Formula 1 drivers such as Carlos Sainz.
Lewis Hamilton’s Role and Insights in Producing the Film
Lewis Hamilton played a pivotal role throughout the making of “F1 the Movie” as a co-producer, contributing his deep knowledge of the sport to enhance authenticity. Filming began in 2023 at the British Grand Prix and took place across several iconic circuits, including the Hungaroring, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Moza Circuit, Zandvoort, Suzuka, Las Vegas, and the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton’s experience as a seven-time world champion helped the film’s creators accurately depict the complexities and excitement of Formula 1.
Reflecting on his involvement, Hamilton shared:
“Coming on board to this project as a producer has been such an incredible learning process for me, seeing what goes into making a feature film, and there’s been a lot of learning on the other side too as everyone has got to grips with Formula 1.” —Lewis Hamilton, Co-producer and F1 World Champion
The anticipation surrounding the movie is high, with large audiences expected in theaters once it releases on June 27.
Impact of the Film and the Collaboration
The collaboration between the film‘s producers and Formula 1 teams like Williams highlights the growing interest in bringing authentic motorsport experiences to the big screen. Using real facilities such as Williams’ wind tunnel underlines the filmmakers’ commitment to realism. Despite the logistical challenges and limited access during active operations, Williams supported the project, reflecting the sport’s enthusiasm for storytelling beyond racing.
With Lewis Hamilton’s prominent involvement and a cast headed by Brad Pitt, the movie aims to attract both motorsport fans and general audiences, potentially expanding Formula 1’s reach globally. The premiere event in New York, attended by key figures from the racing and film worlds, signaled a strong start to the film’s promotional efforts.
Looking ahead, the release of “F1 the Movie” is likely to generate further interest in the sport, showcasing its intensity and behind-the-scenes dynamics through a compelling narrative and realistic portrayal.