As the F1 movie hits Apple TV on Friday 12 December, allowing subscription holders to watch the blockbuster hit for free for the first time, we are taking a look back at where the Brad Pitt-led film was shot.
F1, which has grossed $631.5million at the global box office, follows nomadic driver Sonny Hayes, portrayed by Pitt, as he returns to Formula 1 to drive for the struggling team APXGP alongside rookie driver Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris.
Joining Pitt and Idris in the star-studded cast were Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies and Javier Bardem. As the filming of the movie took place during real-life F1 weekends, some drivers and team members are also featured in the film. This includes seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who also served as an executive producer.
Where was the F1 movie filmed?
F1 was filmed during a number of F1 race weekends during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. While Pitt and Idris did not actually race alongside the other drivers, they did drive the APXGP cars (modified Formula 2 cars) on track and during formation laps, before being edited into real race footage.
F1 movie locations
- Silverstone Circuit, UK – Filming began here during the 2023 British Grand Prix weekend, with Pitt and co-star Idris driving modified Formula 2 cars in front of a live crowd.
- Hungaroring, Hungary – The tight, twisty Budapest circuit was used extensively for racing sequences and testing.
- Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – Famous for Eau Rouge and Raidillon, Spa provided some of the film’s most dramatic high-speed shots as the APXGP cars climbed the famous hill.
- Monza, Italy – The Temple of Speed appears in the movie, with Brands Hatch even used to help recreate parts of the Italian Grand Prix action.
- Zandvoort, Netherlands – The steep banking and coastal setting can be seen a number of times during the movie.
- Suzuka, Japan – The figure-of-eight layout and fast esses are featured in the racing montage.
- Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico – Used for both on-track racing and atmospheric shots in the grandstands.
- Las Vegas Strip Circuit, USA – Large amounts of night-time street racing footage were captured under the neon lights of Vegas, including Hayes's crash.
- Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi – The season-ending venue plays a major role in the movie.
- Circuit of The Americas, Austin, USA – The movie was also filmed at the US Grand Prix venue in Texas. This track was heavily praised by the cast during filming.
In addition to filming during F1 weekends, the crew also picked up footage at Daytona Beach in Florida. The McLaren Technical Centre in Woking also featured as the APXGP team's headquarters in the film.
Pitt discussed his experience of driving at the tracks during an appearance on the Beyond The Grid podcast.
"I have a real love for Silverstone because we got our footing there and we got to live there for a couple of months – how spoiled are we?" he said. "And then I have a real soft spot for Abu Dhabi because we spent another couple of months there and we finished up the film there.
"But the high of highs? Spa. Oh my God! 4.3 miles, 100-metre elevation change through the woods and the back. The Pouhon corner, it's double [apex]. It's off-camber and you're coming downhill into it. It's such a smooth, graceful feeling.
"And then of course Eau Rouge. We went to the bottom of Eau Rouge. Tim Bampton from F1 took us down to the base of Eau Rouge, and he said, 'Turn your backs, just look up the hill and wait.' And the cars come right by the wall.
"Fernando [Alonso] went by, and it literally sucks the air out of your lungs. It is unbelievable. It is unbelievable."
F1 was released on Apple TV on 12 December.
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