There was no shortage of excitement as Formula 1 cars lined the roads of Times Square, and our F1 drivers were just as giddy as the fans of the sport as they walked the red carpet to the world premiere of the F1 movie. As they ventured past the flashing cameras, several were caught by hosts Laura Winter and Madeleine White as the two brilliant interviewers asked for their reactions.
This is what the drivers had to say about what’s expected to be the summer blockbuster.
Lando Norris
“You always want to be the top dog and you always want to be on top – of everyone, not just your team-mate. You want to be on top of the grid, right?
“The interesting part, and I think the thing that the F1 movie gets into a little bit more, is how team-mates have to be team-mates but also how they want to beat one another, and how do you get that balance right?
“Because if it’s too much one way, it’s not good. If it’s too much the other way, it’s not good. It’s a difficult balance, but that’s part of the sport.
“We’ve always known we want to beat each other, but I think one thing we’ve done very well is work together as a team.
“Of course there’s always going to be some little roadblocks and chicanes and things to navigate through, but in the end of the day, I think, as long as we pull through the other day together, that’s the most important.”
Brad Pitt films a scene for the F1 movie at the end of the race
Photo by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Images
Alex Albon
“I think if you’re a true F1 fan, you’re going to laugh a few times. There are a few things, like Easter eggs in there, which I think they’ve done really well. And I think if you appreciate racing and you’re involved in motorsport you’ll really understand little things.”
Carlos Sainz
“I truly enjoyed it. It entertained me a lot, made me laugh, made me suffer a bit with some of the crashes that I saw but at the same time I just had a good time when I watched it. It felt weird, I did a couple of grid walks with Brad by my side and I was like ‘what are you doing? Or I didn’t know if I was like, ‘what am I doing here?’ because I was next to a movie star.”
Charles Leclerc
“It’s very impressive. I didn’t expect an event with so many people so it’s great to see the support and the way F1 has grown over the years in the US. For sure [it will bring in new fans to the sport]. The movie is incredible, the actors are obviously unbelievable. I’m sure it will bring new people to F1 and that’s going to be amazing. We had Drive to Survive, now we’ve got the movie and all of this is bringing new people to the sport that we all love.”
Esteban Ocon
“It is the best racing movie ever. The amount of pure racing that you see and how Lewis [Hamilton] and the producer managed to keep it realistic, it’s very good for all of us. Good that we feature as well at some point in the movie!”
Oliver Bearman
“Seeing how they [APXGP] embedded themselves within F1, I don’t think any other sport has had that level of letting a movie into their sport. They’ve done a great job making it realistic.”
Gabriel Bortoleto
“Those that actually don’t know anything about the sport or just a little bit, you will be amazed and it will get you into the sport. I’m sure you’ll start watching the races in F1.”
Nico Hulkenberg
“It was great, it was fun. Really enjoyed it. I think you guys and the public are going to enjoy it too. It gives another good perspective of different angles on the sport, different to DTS [Drive to Survive]. This is the glamour F1 has been waiting for.”
The movie will see its global release on 25 June and in the USA two days later.
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