Oscars 2026 took all of us on a wild ride, genre-benders like Sinners, historical epics like Hamnet, audacious sci-fi Bugonia, and then… there is F1. A racing movie among cinema’s most prestigious names is the surprise underdog that stuck the apex. Because beyond the glitz and the Hollywood razzmatazz it carries the authenticity of Formula 1 itself, guided by none other than Lewis Hamilton’s insider pulse. 

With the real F1 season revving up this March in Melbourne and Oscar season peaking right now, Lewis Hamilton has shared his reflections on the film’s journey.

Speaking to an Italian publication recently, Lewis Hamilton admitted he was genuinely taken aback by the Academy’s recognition of F1 and his own involvement in steering the project. On being asked if he was surprised by the film’s multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Film Editing and Best Visual Effects, he agreed.

“Course I’m surprised! It was a journey that started four years ago with a call from director Joe Kosinski: ‘Hey man, let’s make a good movie about F1?’” he recounted.

“Reading the first draft, I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is Hollywood style mixed with Fast & Furious.’ So I started educating everyone about F1,” he shared to the publication called Corriere della Sera.

On working with Brad Pitt, Hamilton shared he was equally excited to share his F1 knowledge.

“He understood everything right away. When we released the film, I was really nervous, especially at the preview for the drivers. Will they like it? Will they understand the work we've done?” he said, a nod to the purist fan inside him who knows how exacting real racing audiences can be.

As the Oscars ceremony on March 15 approaches, it conflicts with the early rounds of the 2026 World Championship, making Hamilton choose between two of his passions.

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And that is where the narrative truly shifts gears. On one hand it is the polished glow of the Dolby Theatre, a film about speed being celebrated among cinema’s elite; the next, it is the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

As the countdown to the 2026 season’s opener in Melbourne begins, Lewis Hamilton’s focus has shifted back to carving tenths of seconds on the tarmac instead of frames in a movie. Heading into the new campaign with Scuderia Ferrari, the question of how to stay ahead of the likes of Charles Leclerc inevitably comes up. Hamilton deflects the simplistic notion of rivalry and reframes it with deep respect. 

“I don't see it that way. Ferrari is one thing: in Italy and abroad, people follow it like a religion… My goal isn't to divide the fans; we both want to win…” he says to the same publication.

It is a telling statement from a driver who has experienced the highs and lows of championship battles, and who now seeks to imprint his identity on every turn of the 2026 season. Testing, by design, often glosses over true performance with teams hiding data, but Hamilton’s confidence grows from a foundation of resilience and adaptation.

From red carpets to racetracks, Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 arc feels almost too perfectly scripted: an executive producer celebrating Oscar nominations for F1 while simultaneously fine-tuning a championship charge with Scuderia Ferrari.

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What is your take? Drop your thoughts on F1 the movie and this season’s prospects below!