As car enthusiasts, we’ll watch just about any automotive movie, even the bad ones. Thankfully, F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt, landed firmly in the “great” category, and now it’s officially getting a sequel. After becoming Apple Original Films’ most successful theatrical release and earning serious awards recognition, the high-speed drama is set to return. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed the news in an interview with the BBC.
The F1 Film Universe Is Expanding
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If you haven’t seen F1: The Movie yet for some reason, spoiler alert. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and co-produced by Lewis Hamilton, the original F1 movie followed Pitt as veteran driver Sonny Hayes, who returned to the grid with the fictional APXGP team after years away from racing. Much of the film was shot during real Formula 1 race weekends across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, including at Silverstone, giving it a level of authenticity rarely seen in motorsport movies. While a few Hollywood-style white lies were added for drama, the majority of the racing action and team dynamics were surprisingly accurate. The result was one of Hollywood’s coolest movie car experiences in years, helping the film gross around $630 million worldwide and secure four Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture.
Jerry Bruckheimer Confirms the Sequel Is in Motion
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Speaking to the BBC at an Academy Awards event in Los Angeles, Bruckheimer revealed that work on the sequel is already underway. While no timeline or casting details have been shared yet, the project is actively in development. Given Pitt’s central role in the story, a return as Sonny Hayes feels more likely than not. Bruckheimer is no stranger to turning hit films into long-running successes. His past projects include Pirates of the Caribbean, Top Gun, Bad Boys, Days of Thunder, and a film that features one of the most iconic movie cars ever, Gone in 60 Seconds.
Formula 1’s Hollywood Era Is Only Just Beginning
Cole Attisha
With Formula 1 becoming more intense than ever as Cadillac and Audi officially join the grid in 2026, the sport’s fandom is growing at an exponential rate. And the success of F1 shows there’s a huge appetite for realistic, high-budget racing stories on the big screen. With the final Fast and Furious film on the horizon (hooray), there’s space for a new car-focused franchise that leans more toward authenticity than cars in space. If the sequel delivers the same balance of realism and spectacle, Formula 1’s place in Hollywood looks set to keep growing.
