Joseph Kosinski, director of "F1: The Movie," emphasized the importance of authenticity in recreating one of the sport's most dramatic moments. He pushed his special effects team to "overachieve," resulting in a stunt that exceeded expectations and paid homage to real-life F1 incidents. The film has grossed $609 million worldwide.
Why it matters
The production's commitment to realism aimed to capture the intensity and danger inherent in Formula 1. The central crash scene, inspired by real events, is a pivotal moment in the movie, driving the narrative for Damson Idris's character, Joshua Pearce, and Brad Pitt's Sonny Hayes.
The recreation
- Months of preparation: The dramatic high-speed crash scene, involving Pearce's car flying over Monza's guardrails and igniting, required extensive planning.
- Filming location: The British circuit Brands Hatch was doubled for Monza's iconic corner.
- Technical challenge: Special effects supervisor Keith Dawson detailed using a high-pressure nitrogen ram to launch the car 60-70 meters, aiming for 120 mph at the launch point, mimicking Alex Peroni's real crash.
The unexpected outcome
Kosinski encouraged Dawson to "crank the pressure up" after the initial test fell short. This led to the car launching over 100 meters, far exceeding the planned target and landing in trees. Kosinski noted that such live-action filmmaking surprises often yield more than anticipated.
Driver's input
The fiery aftermath of the crash, with Sonny Hayes rushing to the vehicle, was directly inspired by Romain Grosjean's harrowing incident. Damson Idris, who plays Joshua Pearce, consulted with Grosjean himself to understand the mental and physical experience of such a crash, ensuring a respectful and accurate portrayal.