The Cannes Film Festival runs until this weekend, just 30 miles down the coast from where the Monaco Grand Prix is taking place. But on Wednesday night it was Monaco that was seeing a form of premiere that will have been of interest to many in Cannes, as the F1 movie was shown to the drivers and some team members for the first time.
It lacked the glitz that the world premiere in New York City next month will have, but it did allow the drivers to see just what the finished product looks like, having been part of the production, both willingly and, at times, unknowingly.
It was a nervy time for one driver in particular, with Lewis Hamilton having been an executive producer on the film and tasked with helping ensure the greatest level of authenticity possible.
“For me it was a really interesting and incredible experience to firstly have the opportunity to work with Joe [Kosinski] and Jerry [Bruckheimer] and to learn from them,” Hamilton said. “To see what goes on into the movie right from the treatment from the first script – which was like the first 30 pages – to then see it build into a story and then get to work with the writer Ehren [Kruger] and with Joe, on trying to make sure it could be as authentic as it was.
“But as Jerry said when he spoke to all the drivers and all the team members, it’s still a Hollywood movie, right? And then to think that it’s finally here after all the work that’s gone on from having [movie soundtrack composer] Hans Zimmer – speaking to Hans and having Hans come on board and doing the score… Just the whole project was incredible.
“And to do it with Apple as well – who have been just the best partner to work with – and to get to go and meet Tim [Cook, Apple CEO ] and Eddie [Cue, seniosenior VP] and have them give me a tour of the incredible Apple building was insane.
“Yesterday to come there and then all of a sudden I’ve got all the drivers are there and I was sat in the middle, I was nervous. I was like ‘Oh God, everyone’s seeing it for the first time’ and it was great to look around and see some of the reactions from, particularly the drivers.
“I really care what the drivers think and I wanted them to think highly of it and I mentioned them afterwards you know, like, ‘I welcome your honest opinions about it.’ Because for sure there’s parts you’d be like, ‘Hey the timing may be off on a strategy stop’ or whatever it might be but I think the great thing is the sound is great, the image is incredible. It’s something that has never been done before, so something I’m really proud of.”
But what did the drivers actually think? The majority of the feedback was extremely positive, even when pushed on any potential moments that might veer far from reality.
“I truly enjoyed it,” Carlos Sainz said. “I think for us F1 experts, we’re going to see things a bit like we sometimes see with Netflix [Drive To Survive]. You can tell they’re a bit Hollywood-esque. I truly believe that for a new fan, it will attract a lot of new audience. It will do very well for the people that don’t know anything about F1.
“For the hardcore fan and for journalists and us, we will see things that maybe you think is a bit too American or a bit too Hollywood, but honestly, I enjoyed the whole thing. There were things that really surprised me. The team have done an outstanding job in putting together, I think, a very good Hollywood movie. But let’s see what the people think.
