They called it “Top Gun on wheels,” and for good reason. F1: The Movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), aims to bring the speed, adrenaline, and cinematic intensity of jet-powered flight to the world of Formula 1 racing. Starring Brad Pitt as Sonny, a hotheaded veteran driver, and Damson Idris as Joshua, the cocky up-and-coming rookie, the film explores not just the roar of engines but the psychological rivalry within teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull—and even between teammates.
“If you’re in F1, you want to be the fastest and the best — so does your teammate,” says Oscar-winning supervising sound editor Al Nelson.
Rather than build everything in post, Kosinski and his team embedded themselves inside the 2024 F1 racing circuit, capturing the raw, real sounds of live tracks, pit crews, and international crowds. Each racing location—Silverstone, Monza, Las Vegas, Suzuka, and Abu Dhabi—offered a distinct sonic and visual identity.
To capture authentic footage while maintaining safety, Brad Pitt and Damson Idris drove specially modified F2 cars, crafted by Mercedes AMG, and equipped with Sony cameras and DPA microphones. These cars hit real F1 speeds of 200 mph, and later, the sound team layered in actual F1 audio to replace the F2 recordings.
“How does it sound if you’re the driver, sitting in the cockpit going 200 mph?” Nelson asks.
F1 engines today are V6 hybrids, more high-pitched and technical than the growling V10s of old. But the sound team ensured that the bass frequencies punched through, replicating the gut-rattling feeling of standing trackside. Like they did with Top Gun: Maverick, they applied low-end sweeteners to fill IMAX theaters with visceral realism.
Every race was designed to feel different:
-
Silverstone: raw and stripped of music—pure intensity.
See More ...
-
Las Vegas: tense and muted.
-
Abu Dhabi: high-stakes climax, where everything’s on the line for Sonny and Joshua.
The result is a movie that keeps you in the passenger seat, heart pounding, with Hans Zimmer’s pulse-driving score amplifying every twist and crash.
“You feel the spin-outs. The passes. The danger. That’s what we wanted,” says Nelson.
From controlled chaos on real circuits to emotional rivalries between drivers, F1: The Movie captures the world’s most elite racing sport with unprecedented realism and cinematic flair.
