‘These drivers take it right to the edge’ – Producer Jerry Bruckheimer on why he was so keen to make ‘F1’ movie

Acclaimed Hollywood film producer Jerry Bruckheimer has shared a fascinating insight into the making of the upcoming F1 movie, with the American thrilled to see the first teaser trailer released over the British Grand Prix weekend following three years of working on the project.

Fans were given a first glimpse of the movie – directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Bruckheimer, Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton – during the event at Silverstone. The film is set to be distributed in theatres and in IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures internationally on June 25, 2025, and in North America on June 27, 2025.

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Pitt stars as former F1 driver Sonny Hayes, who returns to the sport to partner rookie team mate Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, at the fictional APXGP team.

Speaking during F1 TV’s Post-Race Show after the British Grand Prix, Bruckheimer – who has produced a host of popular films including Top Gun: Maverick and Days of Thunder – spoke of his pride at sharing the footage with the public for the first time after “three years in the making”.

“Three years ago, we came to visit Stefano [Domenicali] and Mohammed [Ben Sulayem] and this whole wonderful organisation of F1, and fortunately they blessed us and said, ‘come on in, join us and see what you can do’,” he explained.

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“And here we are at Silverstone, the teaser ran today. Lewis Hamilton – who is one of our producers on the movie – is keeping us honest so we get the racing right, and it’s been a phenomenal weekend for us.”

The teaser features several exciting onboard shots from the cars, with cutting-edge technology used to provide these scenes.

“We have 14 cameras we can put on the car,” said Bruckheimer. “The cameras are smaller than the cameras we used in Top Gun. They also are mobile, they can move and turn which we’ve never had before, so technology’s advanced so much, and they’re IMAX quality which is even better.”

Asked if Pitt was actually behind the wheel or if this was a CGI trick, Bruckheimer responded: “That’s Brad driving – three months of training, working with the best stunt drivers. Lewis even said, ‘look, you’re doing really well’, and that’s quite a compliment.”

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With Bruckheimer’s notable projects including Top Gun and Days of Thunder – about elite fighter pilots and NASCAR drivers respectively – the producer acknowledged that he sees a connection between these kinds of stories, having started working on F1 off the back of Top Gun: Maverick.

“They’re men who take to the edge – all these drivers take it right to the edge,” he reflected. “Whether you’re a fighter pilot or driver, you’re right on the edge, and we love that. We just don’t want them to fall off the cliff! But they’re great at what they do.”

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And when pushed on whether he was already a Formula 1 fan – or if working on the movie, which has been filmed at real F1 events, had turned him into one – Bruckheimer said: “It turned me into an F1 fan. I was a NASCAR fan – not going into the movie, but afterwards. Now I’m an F1 fan.

“Three years of following the racing and watching all the great stuff you guys do. You do a phenomenal job promoting the sport, and I’m starting to understand it. It’s taken three years, but I’m starting to get it!”