The Real Circuits F1
F1 (2025) was filmed at eight Formula One circuits during the 2023 and 2024 World Championships, plus additional circuits used for testing, training, and standing in for locations the crew could not access during live race weekends. The production also used non-circuit locations including McLaren Technology Centre, Williams, and Mercedes' Brackley headquarters for team-base interiors.
Silverstone: where it all began
Principal photography launched at the Silverstone Circuit during the 2023 British Grand Prix weekend (July 7-9). Silverstone serves as APXGP's home circuit in the film and hosts the British Grand Prix disaster of beat 10, where Sonny's car stalls and both drivers crash out. The circuit also doubled for Monza in several cast scenes — the SAG-AFTRA strike and scheduling conflicts prevented a return to Italy, so vehicle-mounted array scanning from Monza was used to create digital Italian environments that replaced the Silverstone backgrounds in post-production. (wikipedia)
"You just can't fake the speed and action of Formula 1. Brad and Damson are driving the cars travelling at ridiculous speeds around these tracks." — Joseph Kosinski, Formula1.com (2025)
Hungaroring: the rope-a-dope safety car
The Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring (beat 12) is where Sonny executes his rope-a-dope strategy — deliberately crashing into a Williams to trigger safety cars that neutralize the race and allow Joshua to score APXGP's first-ever championship point. The Lola B2K/10 chase car failed mechanically at Hungary, forcing one of the APXGP cars to take over camera duties. (wikipedia)
Spa-Francorchamps: Joshua crashes into Sonny on the Kemmel Straight
The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa (beat 18) hosts the confrontation where Joshua deliberately touches wheels with Sonny on the Kemmel Straight, sending him into the gravel. Spa's famous Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex provided some of the film's most dramatic high-speed footage.
Brands Hatch: doubling for Monza's Parabolica
Brands Hatch in Kent was used for the Monza crash sequence (beat 15) — Joshua's fiery collision with Verstappen. The kerbs at turns 6 and 8 were repainted to match sections of Monza. The first corner was used for the big crash scene; when the film switches to Pitt's POV, the location is turn 6 (Westfield) at Brands Hatch. Digital environment replacement transformed the English countryside into the Italian circuit. (motorsport.com)
Zandvoort and the unnamed circuits: the combat upgrade montage
The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort appears in the montage of beats 17-18, where Sonny climbs the grid alone with Kate's upgraded car. Additional circuits used during the montage are unnamed in the film.
Las Vegas Strip Circuit: the most dangerous filming location
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit — a street circuit with concrete walls and no gravel runoff — was the location Jerry Bruckheimer (F1) described as the scariest for the production team. Sonny's Las Vegas crash (beat 24) was set here. Kosinski described the cold tires and slippery conditions of filming on the Strip.
"It was cold, the tires were cold, it was slippery... that kind of pressure was high pressure for sure." — Joseph Kosinski, Screen Rant (2025)
Brad Pitt appreciated the setting's visual drama.
"That was kind of cool man, to go down the strip with the lights." — Brad Pitt, Formula1.com (2025)
Yas Marina: the Abu Dhabi finale
See The Abu Dhabi Finale for full coverage. The production filmed at Yas Marina across 29 days and three separate shoots, including footage captured during the real 2023 and 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekends with live crowds and fireworks.
Additional circuits and locations
| Circuit/Location | Use in Production |
|---|---|
| Paul Ricard, France | Actor driving training |
| Circuit of the Americas, Austin | 2021 scouting visit; additional filming |
| Suzuka, Japan | Grand Prix weekend filming |
| Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico | Grand Prix weekend filming |
| Daytona International Speedway | Opening sequence (24 Hours of Daytona) |
| McLaren Technology Centre | APXGP team headquarters interior |
| Williams | Wind tunnel scenes |
| Mercedes, Brackley | Simulator scenes |
At the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona, the Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R and Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 ran fictional "Chip Hart Racing" liveries for the opening sequence. (wikipedia)