The highly anticipated Formula 1 film, helmed by Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski and backed by Hollywood heavyweight Jerry Bruckheimer, just confirmed a runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes, signaling this isn’t just another flashy sports movie. It’s a feature-length dive into the world of F1, powered by real race footage and star power both on and off the track. And if the Met Gala was any indication, the cultural engine behind the film is already firing on all cylinders.
A Feature-Length Tribute to Racing
The announcement of a 2.5-hour runtime stirred strong reactions online, and for good reason. For most racing fans, this feels just right. After all, we regularly sit through full-length Grands Prix, so a narrative film matching that intensity and duration feels more like an immersive bonus than a stretch. The extended runtime also signals confidence, confidence that this story, shot on location at real F1 races, has enough character drama, team politics, and edge-of-your-seat action to justify every minute.
That said, there’s also a healthy layer of skepticism among longtime fans. With Apple backing the project, some worry the final cut could lean too promotional. But as long as the movie avoids becoming a 150-minute ad reel and instead focuses on authentic storytelling, it has the chance to become one of motorsport’s most iconic cinematic moments.
Damson Idris: The Star Who Already Looks the Part
One of the leads, Damson Idris, turned heads at the 2025 Met Gala, sporting a futuristic ensemble that seemed to blur the line between fashion icon and F1 phenom. It wasn’t just about looking good, it was a reminder that the film is poised to launch a new cultural symbol for modern racing fans.
There’s an unmistakable confidence Idris brings to public appearances that makes his casting feel spot-on. You look at him and believe he could genuinely hold his own against the grid. His presence, both in the paddock and on the red carpet, already suggests a character who can carry the intensity of F1, not just the physical demands but the psychological warfare, the public scrutiny, and the race for relevance. He’s not just playing a driver. He is the driver.
Lewis Hamilton: From Champion to Cultural Architect
Alongside Idris was Sir Lewis Hamilton, co-producer of the film and longtime champion of pushing F1 into new spaces, fashion, film, and culture at large. Dressed in custom Wales Bonner, Hamilton brought his signature blend of elegance and activism to the Met Gala. It wasn’t just a fashion moment, it was a statement about representation and where the sport is headed.
Hamilton has long used platforms like this not just for personal branding, but to elevate Black designers and underrepresented voices in elite spaces. His involvement in the film adds more than just racing legitimacy, it adds moral weight. He’s shaping a story that feels authentic, aspirational, and inclusive. And when he walks the carpet, whether it’s Monaco or the Met, the message is clear: F1 isn’t just a sport anymore, it’s a global narrative.
All Signs Point to Legacy
Between the confirmed runtime, real track footage, and two cultural powerhouses leading the promotional charge, the F1 film is building momentum in all the right ways. This isn’t just a movie about speed. It’s a movie about identity, pressure, legacy, and the spectacle of Formula 1 at its most cinematic.
And if these early appearances are anything to go by, the lead-up to release will be just as thrilling as the film itself.