Which tracks did 'F1 The Movie' film at and how did they create the incredible racing sequences?

As movie goers get ready to go and see F1 The Movie in cinemas, let’s take an in-depth look into which race circuits feature in the film, and just how the APXGP team managed to integrate themselves onto the F1 grid.

Brad Pitt and Damson Idris star in the film along with Javier Bardem and Kerry Condon, which sees a true underdog tale as Pitt’s character Sonny Hayes makes a late F1 comeback as he goes head-to-head with his hotshot young team mate Joshua Pearce.

Both Pitt and Idris featured at a number of F1 circuits across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, with the film crew using plenty of locations to gain some realistic footage to feature in the film.

They even had the APXGP cars take part in the Formation Lap at a number of races, with the fans glimpsing some behind the scenes action behind lights out. But which circuits were featured?

Which circuits were used for F1 The Movie?

The Hollywood film crew were at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Mexico City, Monza in Italy, Silverstone in the UK, the Hungaroring in Hungary, Suzuka in Japan, Zandvoort in the Netherlands and also at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina.

The team also filmed at some non-F1 circuits including Daytona Beach in Florida.

Eagle-eyed viewers will have already spotted Pitt and Idris lining up for the pre-race formalities at a few venues last season and taking part in the actual Formation Laps to the grid.

But they did not take part in any racing, those scenes instead created using post-production special effects. Both Pitt and Idris, however, did drive the modified F2 cars that star as the APXGP machines in the movie, while there were special slots given at race weekends for the cars to run around track so the team could capture all the footage they would need.

“You just can’t fake the speed and action of Formula 1,” explained Director Joseph Kosinski. “Brad and Damson are driving the cars travelling at ridiculous speeds around these tracks.”

“It’s so much fun man to rocket out of there,” grinned Pitt in one behind the scenes clip. He added that the aim was to “make the most realistic racing movie we’ve seen today.”

“I’m going to brag,” jokes Pitt when asked about how many race tracks he has now driven on, before confirming that filming also took place at Paul Ricard in France, and COTA in Austin.

“I’m surprised how technical that track is,” said Pitt about the Circuit of the Americas, before adding that they also filmed in Las Vegas. “That was kind of cool man, to go down the strip with the lights.”

Whether the film follows the same crescendo as an F1 season and concludes with the action from Abu Dhabi remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure - there will be plenty of familiar circuits, corners and grids for the die-hard fans to look out for when they watch the movie in the cinema following its June 25 release.