Damson Idris is still in awe of his experience filming the new high-octane F1 movie — especially because he got to collaborate closely with none other than Sir Lewis Hamilton.
The Snowfall star joins Brad Pitt in the long-awaited Formula One film, which promises to be one of the most realistic racing movies ever made. But behind the scenes, it was the mentorship and energy of the seven-time Formula One World Champion that truly made the difference for Damson.
“When it comes to driving, he really encouraged me,” Damson told BBC 1Xtra. “He brought that energy on set that reminded us how authentic this movie is. That was always our goal — to make the most authentic racing movie of all time.”
And for Damson, the connection with Lewis runs deeper than just work.
“Lewis is my brother as well. So to see him getting in his acting bag was so amazing to me.”
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From Speed to Script: Lewis Hamilton’s Hands-On Role
Far from just a cameo appearance, Lewis Hamilton was heavily involved behind the scenes as an executive producer, shaping the film from concept to screen.
“It’s been like four years we’ve been working on it,” Lewis told Extra. “From the first treatment, working on the script, the characters… it’s been a long, long road.”
And yes — he did get Brad Pitt behind the wheel.
“I got to take Brad out for the first time a couple years ago on a track,” Lewis said. “He took me out on a lap, and straight away I could see he was already a bit of a racing driver. I wasn’t scared for him.”
But with Damson Idris? It was a different story.
“I was a little bit scared,” Lewis admitted with a laugh. “Because I don’t think Damson grew up watching racing… like, Black families don’t really grow up watching Formula One. I think he was thrown in the deep end. But he did such an amazing job.”
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Idris Faced the Heat – and the Speed
Despite all the encouragement, Damson didn’t sugarcoat just how tough filming was — especially when racing at insane speeds while staying in character.
“You need to remember, when you’re driving those cars, sometimes you’re hitting 180 miles per hour. I was moving, it was fire,” he said. “Then on top of that, you’ve got to act within a movie… you’ve still got to try and look cute.”
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Authenticity, Brotherhood, and Adrenaline
With an all-star cast, real F1 tech, and Sir Lewis Hamilton steering the creative wheel, F1 isn’t just another racing movie — it’s a cinematic pit stop into the heart of motorsport. And for Damson Idris, it was a ride he’ll never forget.
Keep your eyes on the track — F1 is speeding your way soon.
