Motorsports

What F1 drivers think of Brad Pitt’s movie: ‘Icks’ and ‘the best racing movie of all-time’

MONACO — Through the past two years, Formula One’s paddock has doubled as a real-life movie set thanks to the immersive filming approach taken for Apple’s upcoming film, “F1: The Movie.” Drivers have helped stage scenes during pre-race grid ceremonies, welcomed Brad Pitt into their briefings with the FIA, and even shared a podium with […]

Published

3 weeks ago

May 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MONACO — Through the past two years, Formula One’s paddock has doubled as a real-life movie set thanks to the immersive filming approach taken for Apple’s upcoming film, “F1: The Movie.”

Drivers have helped stage scenes during pre-race grid ceremonies, welcomed Brad Pitt into their briefings with the FIA, and even shared a podium with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in Abu Dhabi last year.

But on Wednesday evening in Monaco, the 2025 F1 grid saw the finished movie a month early at a private screening ahead of this weekend’s grand prix. “F1: The Movie” will get its international release on June 25 before hitting screens in North America on June 27.

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, has been the most involved driver, working as a producer and helping to ensure the movie’s accuracy. These efforts extend to details such as correct engine note sounds, as well as acting as a valuable sounding board for producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joe Kosinski. For Hamilton, seeing the logo of Dawn Apollo, his film company, appear on screen and spotting his name as a producer in the credits gave him a special feeling of joy, even though he had already watched it about 20 times.

But this screening was different.

“All of a sudden, I’ve got all the drivers there and I was sat in the middle, (and) I was nervous,” Hamilton told reporters on Thursday. “I was like ‘Oh God, everyone is seeing it for the first time.’”

Such a select audience would provide the first opportunity to gauge just how successful the film has been at becoming the most immersive and accurate racing film of all time, as the producers intended. The drivers who live such scenes are arguably its toughest audience.

After the screening, Hamilton messaged all his peers to ask for their honest feedback. “For sure, there’s parts you’d be like, ‘Hey, the timing may be off on a strategy stop,’ or whatever it might be,” he said.

“But I think the great thing is, the sound is great. The image is incredible. It’s something that has never been done before. So, it’s something I’m really proud of.”

How realistic is the F1 movie?

“I thought some of you were there!”

Laughter echoed in Haas’ hospitality unit during Esteban Ocon’s media session in Monaco on Thursday.

The initial questions had focused on the screening, and Ocon, unaware that the present journalists had not seen the movie yet, shared a few spoilers (which won’t be repeated here). Although none with significant, ground-breaking detail.

The general feel from across the Monaco paddock is that the movie is broadly accurate. But a Hollywood-type flair, to be expected, was noted. Williams driver Carlos Sainz shared Thursday, “There were a couple of icks, but honestly, not as many as I thought. They warned us and they said, ‘Guys, we are in love with your sport, but this is Hollywood.’”

One of the biggest questions “F1: The Movie” faces is how accurately it portrays everyday life for those working in the paddock. Netflix docuseries “Drive to Survive” uses footage filmed at race weekends and from direct driver interviews, but series producer Box to Box and the streaming platform have historically faced criticism for taking creative license with the storylines in what is supposed to be a fly-on-the-wall production.

Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson described the film as “very immersive” and said “it captures the feeling of being in Formula One.” The movie includes racing battles and crashes with real-life competitors, but utilizes CGI rather than sending Pitt and co-star Damson Idris out on track in Formula Two cars against the F1 drivers. But if the drivers can tell there is an element of Hollywood touch at work, will viewers need an open mind?

“You can always find holes and poke holes in things,” Lawson said. “But I think it’s a movie, at the end of the day. It’s the same if you’re watching ‘Top Gun.’ I’m sure if you’re a fighter pilot and you’re watching a movie like that, you’re going to pick things in there that you might see differently. But I think the movie is incredible. That’s what most people are going to see when they see this.”

Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll were the only F1 drivers not to attend the private screening ahead of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix (Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 / Getty Images)

Ocon detected Hamilton’s involvement as a producer. “Some of the parts you can really feel that Lewis has pushed it to keep it super realistic,” he said. While Ocon would’ve liked more racing and fewer crash sequences, he said, “It’s still by far the best racing movie of all time.”

“I think proper racing fans will enjoy it,” Ocon said. “They are going to comment about some of the things that maybe don’t make 100 percent sense. But honestly, for such a big movie with such an audience, it’s the closest to reality racing movie that I’ve ever seen, in comparison to all the other ones.”

Can the movie capture a new audience?

Two members of the 2025 grid have yet to watch the film, including the reigning world champion Max Verstappen. He notified F1 in advance that he would not attend the screening to spend more time at home. His partner, Kelly Piquet, gave birth to a girl, Lily, at the end of April.

“I wanted to spend more private time — because the evening is also private time, at the end of the day,” Verstappen said. He was streaming on iRacing on Wednesday evening, but claimed he’d download the film in a few weeks and watch it when it is released. “I heard good stuff from the movie,” Verstappen said. “So, I’m sure it’s going to be exciting.”

The other absentee was Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll, who only arrived in Monaco on Thursday. Asked why he didn’t make the screening, he said it was “just stuff,” but he does plan to watch the film.

While the drivers may be best-placed to judge the accuracy and merits of the film, they know they are not the direct target audience. The film’s goal, and F1’s goal, is to reach far wider, so that the “icks” that Sainz mentioned are only picked up by a small percentage of viewers — the most hardcore F1 fans.

“Nearly all of the movie, in terms of track action and things like that, it was very original and very representative,” said Fernando Alonso. “So that was a very good thing.”

Lawson felt those who hadn’t watched F1 before seeing the film would be the most impressed by the footage, which he and other drivers agree is accurate. Both Pitt and Idris trained to drive the custom-built APXGP car in real life.

Lewis Hamilton produced and consulted on the film (Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

“I can imagine somebody who’s watching the sport for the first time, watching that movie, they’re going to think it’s amazing,” Lawson said.

Current championship leader Oscar Piastri was impressed by the degree of realism. He cited a moment when the editors added the two APXGP cars to existing racing footage from real races. “The CGI in a lot of areas was very convincing,” Piastri said. “I can’t give too much away, but there are some things that if you don’t follow F1 fully, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference if it was real or not.

“I think for all the people involved in F1, they’ll be at least somewhat satisfied with the accuracy of all the little details.”

Piastri’s McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, didn’t want to comment when pressed on some of the scenes involved, respecting the need not to give away spoilers. But he acknowledged it was “a much bigger stage” for F1. “It’s a movie, it’s got movie stars in it, and I think that’s something a lot more historical than just a Netflix documentary,” Norris said. “It’s something that in 20 years your kids can still watch and it’ll still be kind of cool.”

The success of “Drive to Survive” in bringing F1 to a new, broader fanbase has transformed the sport. To have F1 portrayed on the biggest screens, with some of Hollywood’s biggest-name actors, directors and producers involved, has the potential to boost F1’s popularity — especially if it can capture that intended new audience.

“Apparently they did a survey with a lot of people that hadn’t ever watched a Formula One race, and after watching the film, they would ask, ‘would you watch a Formula One race now?’ And 100 percent of people said yes,” said Sainz. “So, that just tells you how good I think it is going to be for the sport.

“Maybe I’m completely wrong. But I think it’s going to do a lot of good.”

(Top image: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 / Getty Images)

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Motorsports

Dale Jr Doesn’t Hold Back on Justin Haley’s “Awful” 2025 Season

What’s Happening? In the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr did not hold back when talking about Spire Motorsports driver Justin Haley’s performance during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Entering the season, hopes were high for Haley. However, as Dale Earnhardt Jr. explained on Tuesday’s episode of the Dale Jr […]

Published

11 minutes ago

June 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

What’s Happening?

In the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr did not hold back when talking about Spire Motorsports driver Justin Haley’s performance during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Entering the season, hopes were high for Haley. However, as Dale Earnhardt Jr. explained on Tuesday’s episode of the Dale Jr Download, this hype has fallen dramatically, making Haley appear as the weak link of the three-car team.

“Justin Haley was a good free agent in this sport… He drove for Rick Ware and did some pretty curious, solid runs in that car. And, he has leveraged that into this opportunity at Spire. But since he’s been there, it’s been awful. It has been bad.” — Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt even went on to say, “I felt like that [No. 7 team] had the potential to be the best Spire car.”

Now, there are a few factors that could have contributed to Haley’s fallout. After all, he was on a new team with a new Crew Chief and former Cup Series champion, Rodney Childers.

Childers, the former long-time Crew Chief for Kevin Harvick, made the jump to Spire this past off-season and, teaming up with a resurgent Haley, looked to take the team to a new level this year. But the two seemingly failed to click early on this year, and ultimately, just nine races into the season, Spire and Childers parted ways.

Neither side gave an exact reason for the split, but most attribute his departure to only further hurting Haley’s 2025 outings. Earnhardt agrees that this departure, one that would affect any driver in Haley’s position, has definitely played into the No. 7 team’s poor performance this season.

“I think that derailed Haley a little bit,” Earnhardt said. “Anytime you have a Crew Chief change mid-season, it’s not awesome, and it hasn’t seemed to have made Haley’s deal much different.”

Around this time last season, Haley was the talk of the town in NASCAR Silly Season. The former long-time staple of Kaulig Racing departed the team following the 2023 season and shockingly went to backmarker Rick Ware Racing for the 2024 season.

Justin Haley: 2024’s Top Silly Season Name

Despite this apparent downgrade, Haley outperformed all expectations in that car and proved to be a viable option for any team looking for a refreshed look in 2025. This hype got to the point where even diehard Hendrick Motorsports fans were calling for Haley to take over duties for Alex Bowman in the No. 48 for this season.

Ultimately, Spire Motorsports, as part of a flurry of changes this past silly season, swapped long-time driver Corey LaJoie for Haley during the playoffs. Yet, seemingly in better equipment, Haley is barely improving on his stats from the 2024 season.

This performance is almost as shocking as that of former Spire Motorsports driver Zane Smith, who had a similar start to his time with the team in 2024. In his case, however, the former Truck Series Champion turned a major corner during the summer; perhaps his former teammate Haley can do so as the 2025 Cup Series season rolls on.

Let us know your thoughts on this! Join the discussion on Discord or X, and remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates.

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Motorsports

A Tasting Menu is Coming to the NASCAR Track in Chicago

What’s more thrilling than a high-speed NASCAR race? How about carb-loading right where the cars take off? This summer, Chicago Gourmet is rolling out one of its most daring (and delicious) experiences yet: a five-course Italian tasting menu served smack on the NASCAR Chicago Street Race track. On Wednesday, July 2, from 6 p.m. to 9 […]

Published

12 minutes ago

June 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

On Wednesday, July 2, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the race’s start/finish line will transform into the city’s most unexpected fine-dining venue, blending Michelin-caliber cuisine with pit-lane vibes. As part of the Chicago Gourmet Festival’s new “Culinary World Series,” the event marks a high-octane kickoff to the city’s biggest food celebration and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to toast with wine where tires usually burn rubber.

RECOMMENDED: The 25 best restaurants in Chicago you have to try in 2025

The chef lineup is stacked with Chicago stars, including Fabio Viviani (Siena Tavern, Bar Siena), Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno), Joe Frillman and Leigh Omilinsky (Daisies) and Steve Maak (Levy Restaurants). The night’s theme: bold Italian flavors, dished out trackside with flair.

Diners can expect signature race-day cocktails from Jose Cuervo (the official tequila of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, naturally) and a “Cup Series” of wine pairings from legendary Italian winery Marchesi Antinori. There’s even an emcee—culinary personality, Catherine De Orio—to steer the evening along.

Tickets cost $250 per person, and proceeds benefit the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the state’s hospitality workforce.

This isn’t Chicago Gourmet’s only sports-forward event this year. Friday, July 25, brings a Duck Dog face-off at the Crosstown Classic, and Wednesday, August 20 features a tribute dinner to Jackie Robinson led by chefs from Virtue.

But the NASCAR dinner is the wildest lap yet. Because why just watch a race, when you can eat a truffled raviolo where the rubber meets the road?

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Motorsports

Hyak Motorsports – Mexico City Race Advance – Speedway Digest

Event Overview · Event: Viva Mexico 250 · Time/Date: 3pm EDT on Sunday, June 15 · Location: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez · Layout: 14-turn, 2.41 mile track · Format: 242 miles/200 laps | Stages: 20/45/100 · TV/Radio: PRIME / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Notes of Interest Hyak Motorsports heads to Mexico City for the first […]

Published

28 minutes ago

June 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Event Overview

· Event: Viva Mexico 250

· Time/Date: 3pm EDT on Sunday, June 15

· Location: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

· Layout: 14-turn, 2.41 mile track

· Format: 242 miles/200 laps | Stages: 20/45/100

· TV/Radio: PRIME / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

Hyak Motorsports heads to Mexico City for the first time this weekend with FunPops. Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was constructed in 1959 and is one of the most historic and distinctive racetracks in the world of motorsports. The NASCAR Cup Series has not raced internationally in 25 years, cementing this race in NASCAR history.

The No. 47 Chevrolet will feature the iconic red, white & blue FunPops branding once again this weekend. This partnership between Hyak Motorsports and FunPops bring a nostalgic flair to the track while delivering excitement to fans of all ages. Both brands hope to continue this long term collaboration.

In preparation for the Viva Mexico 250, Hyak Motorsports is focused on staying out of trouble early in the race and figuring out the track as the weekend progresses. Rain is forecasted and that will certainly challenge everyone since rain tires will be an option.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet for Hyak Motorsports:

“It’s really exciting to head to Mexico City for the first time. Racing in a new country is always a unique experience, and I’m looking forward to seeing the fans, learning the track, and soaking in the culture. There’s a lot of unknowns, but that’s part of what makes it fun—we’re ready for the challenge. It’s awesome to have FunPops with us for this historic race.”

Hyak Motorsports PR

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Motorsports

Western District of North Carolina | Former Nascar Team Owner Pleads guilty To Failure To Pay Payroll Taxes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Former NASCAR team owner Ronald Devine, 68, of Burke, Virginia, appeared in federal court today and pleaded guilty to failure to pay payroll taxes, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), James C. Barnacle, […]

Published

29 minutes ago

June 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), James C. Barnacle, Jr., Acting Special Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According to the plea documents and other court records, Devine was the owner and President of BK Racing, LLC (BK Racing), which operated a NASCAR racing team and owned two NASCAR charters. As the owner, Devine exercised control over BK Racing’s financial affairs, including authorizing the filing and payment of its trust fund taxes, commonly referred to as payroll taxes.

Payroll taxes are withheld from employees’ gross pay for income tax and and to fund Social Security and Medicare. Employers are also required to make contributions to trust fund taxes matching the amounts withheld from their employees’ pay, and to file and pay quarterly taxes.

According to court records, beginning in 2012, Devine caused BK Racing to fail to account for and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in payroll taxes. Court documents show that, between 2012 and 2017, instead of using the funds held in trust to pay for payroll taxes due, Devine transferred more than $2 million to other businesses and entities that he owned and controlled and used some of the funds to pay for BK Racing’s expenses.

Devine was released on bond following his guilty plea. The charge of failure to truthfully account for and pay over trust fund taxes carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended IRS-CI, the FBI, and USPIS for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caryn Finley and Daniel Ryan of the Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.

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Motorsports

Big Fathers Day weekend at Mosca Motorsports Park

Clint Adams figures about 2,000 fans can fit into the grandstands at Mosca Motorsports Park. He’s thinking about bringing in a set of portable stands to handle the overflow crowd that he’s expecting for Sunday’s big IMCA Father’s Day show in Mosca. Adams and an army of good ol’ boys have spent the past four […]

Published

46 minutes ago

June 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Adams and an army of good ol’ boys have spent the past four months getting the moth-balled track ready for racing. Now comes the IMCA Father’s Day event, with gates opening at 11 a.m. and races set to start at 3 p.m. in Mosca.

The International Motor Contest Association runs on a points system, where drivers in the various stock car categories compete in their respective states at certified IMCA tracks. The Colorado Alliance Tour is part of the circuit and all the leading drivers will be in Mosca on Father’s Day to race on the new track Adams has been building since he took over the track in March.

Tracker on a dirt lot — Mosca Motorsports Park prepares the track for their Father’s Day event. Credit: The Citizen

“We’ve put a lot of work in. We just put 600 yards of dirt on the track. We put gypsum on the track to hold the moisture. We’ve been working on it,” he said.

The points standings keep racing fans engaged and traveling the state circuits to see their favorite drivers, and it’s that experience that Adams expects to see when the refurbished Mosca Motorsports Park hosts its first IMCA show.

“A lot of good, fast competitive racing is what they’re going to see,” he said of the stock car and other racing fans will experience.

Adams was the 2023 IMCA Hobby Stock racing champion for Colorado. Now his 10-year-old son, Martin, is driving in the junior sport compact races and will be in a car on Sunday at his dad’s track.

Listen to this Valley Pod episode with Clint and Martin Adams on the Father’s Day event at Mosca Motorsports Park.

A young boy in a hat stands in front of a dirt track. — Martin Adams stands in front of the track where he will race on Father’s Day. Credit: The Citizen

“We’re living the dream,” dad says of the summer months the Adams family travels to work the IMCA and BST Track circuit. Now he has a track of his own in the Mosca Motorsports Park, which has seen motorsports racing for over a decade.

On Tuesday, five days before the big show, Clint was watering the track and installing lights on the front stretch in case Sunday’s races extend into darkness.

The Mosca track is a ⅓ mile and is built with 600 yards of dirt brought in mixed with gypsum, clay and straw to help hold the moisture in the track. It’s the only ⅓ mile track on the Colorado Alliance Tour and will get tested by the best stock car drivers in the state.

The Colorado Alliance Tour races Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Northern SportMods, and Sport Compacts, including the Junior Sport Compacts that young Martin Adams will race in. Clint Adams has added to the lineup a Warriors class race which are speedy cars in between a hobby and a stock car; and he’s added a low-budget race for anyone with a car.

Admission to Sunday’s race is $15 adults; $10 military veterans and youth ages 13-17; $5 kids ages 6-12; and free for kids 5 and younger.

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Motorsports

Kevin Harvick sends warning to drivers on NASCAR Playoff bubble, including Carson Hocevar

As the summer rages on, the bubble for the NASCAR Playoffs is as tight as ever. 20 points separate five drivers for the final spot at the moment, as Ryan Preece, Kyle Busch, Carson Hocevar, AJ Allmendinger and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are battling at the moment. On the latest episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, […]

Published

47 minutes ago

June 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As the summer rages on, the bubble for the NASCAR Playoffs is as tight as ever. 20 points separate five drivers for the final spot at the moment, as Ryan Preece, Kyle Busch, Carson Hocevar, AJ Allmendinger and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are battling at the moment.

On the latest episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Kevin Harvick sent a warning to that contingent, pointing out that with an influx of road courses on the schedule, things could get shaken up in quick fashion. The bubble could move, and that’s not good news for these veteran wheelmen on the outside looking in.

“The points are getting ready to change,” Harvick stated. “You mark my words, three weeks from now, the points are getting ready to change, just because of the road course season coming up. Squiggly season. I just think that, if we get one or two of these wild card winners that we are throwing into the possibilities of being able to win, with an SVG (Shane Van Gisbergen) or AJ Allmendinger, [Daniel] Suarez.

“You just don’t know how these road courses — especially a new road course in Mexico City, and a street course. I mean, it might be laid out the same, but it’s not going to — it’s just treacherous. It could bite you at any moment. It could rain. There’s so many things that could possibly go wrong. So, I don’t know. I think that that bubble is great to look at, but I think that bubble could be two spots higher for the guys that have points, which is like 40 some points.”

Out of all the drivers outside the cut-line, Hocevar is the one catching Harvick’s attention. He recognizes the young man has incredible speed at the moment, and if he doesn’t get to Victory Lane, he could point his way in.

“You talk about pointing your way in. I think Hocevar is scoring stage points. I think he’s fast enough to win. I think he’s fast enough to score those stage points consistently. He’s just a new player,” Harvick added. “The way that he handled the Stenhouse thing this week, it seems like there wasn’t really any animosity there. They talked through it.

“I’m just saying it doesn’t seem like there’s any lingering effects from them, so the politics of the internal dealings with situations like that seem to be getting corrected a little better each time. So, I think he’s progressing, and he still has the speed.”

Time will tell which drivers make the playoffs, but it’s evident we have a close battle on our hands. Nobody without a win at the moment is safe, and that’ll add intrigue over the course of the summer for the NASCAR Cup Series.

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