We Capture All This Epic Stuff

Damson Idris is reflecting on his experience filming alongside Brad Pitt and real Formula 1 drivers for the highly anticipated, Joseph Kosinski-directed movie, F1.

The Snowfall actor recounted his audition process and the thrilling first day of filming in an interview with Vanity Fair. Idris landed the role of Joshua Pearce, the teammate to Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, a former driver who comes out of retirement to mentor the younger driver in the fictional racing team APXGP.

“I look to my left, it’s Brad Pitt. I look to my right, it’s Javier Bardem. I look at my hands, they’re shaking,” Idris shared about that first filming day at the British Grand Prix last year. “We filmed all this epic stuff with amazing drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.”

F1 features Pitt’s character, Sonny, and follows his journey as he mentors Joshua while he navigates the intense world of Formula 1 racing. Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 world champion and current driver for Mercedes-AMG Petronas, also served as a producer on the film.

Speaking about filming inside the race cars in Abu Dhabi, Idris said, “I was in the car for 45 minutes today. It sounds normal, but it’s not. It’s very hot. You’re strapped in and sweating through the helmet. You lose so much weight.”

Before stepping into the APXGP racing suit, Idris needed to prove his capabilities to director Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Idris recounted that when he learned he got the role, he headed straight to the Silverstone Circuit in the U.K. to test his driving skills.

“It was wet that day, I’ll never forget,” Idris recalled. “I was thinking, please don’t crash. One, because you’ll probably die, but two, more importantly, you won’t get the part.”

After a year of filming and with the first teaser trailer for the movie released, Idris described working with Kosinski as a dream come true. “He is a director’s director,” Idris said. “His approach to cinema is top-notch. The feeling I got from Top Gun was like when I watched E.T. or Star Wars as a kid. His films are all about pure entertainment.”

Idris also reflected on working with Oscar-winner Brad Pitt. “Talk about a superstar,” he said. “His humility is unmatched. I don’t know if people realize this, but he is really good behind the wheel. He’s so good that it makes me nervous.”

F1 is set to hit theaters in North America on June 27, 2025.