Top Gun vs. F1: Joseph Kosinski Spills Wildest Differences Filming Both Blockbusters

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Enthusiasts of sports dramas are eagerly anticipating the release of a highly anticipated movie slated for June 2025. Known as F1, this film has been shrouded in secrecy since production ended, leaving fans on tenterhooks. As we rev up our anticipation to experience what promises to be one of the year’s most significant – and costly – box office hits, director is tantalizing fans with a hint of comparison: How does F1 differ from another recent action epic, Top Gun: Maverick?

Recently, Kosinski discussed the new project with Entertainment Weekly, where he collaborated once more with some members from his Top Gun team, including Jerry Bruckheimer (producer) and Ehren Kruger (writer), among others. The director acknowledged the apparent parallels between jet fighter pilots and sports car drivers, stating, “They are the stars of their own realm, and indeed, they both crave speed.” Yet, he also highlighted the most significant distinctions:

In the movie Top Gun, we took off from an aircraft carrier, which was located approximately 100 miles away from the shore. During filming, we had a live audience of around 400,000 people watching us.

Frequently, due to filming at real-time events, I had limited time, just a couple of minutes, to capture each scene. It had a feel similar to a stage play, requiring thorough preparation, yet demanding spontaneity, with only a handful of opportunities to record a scene.

To create an authentic feel, Kosinski and his team ensured that action sequences didn’t appear as if they were mere actors in front of a green screen. They had real Formula 1 drivers as consultants during production, with Lewis Hamilton serving as producer. The cinematographers also had to adjust the cameras for high-speed shots involving vehicles. Kosinski mentioned that shooting scenes during actual events was one of the toughest tasks due to narrow time constraints.

In our work, we frequently had a narrow timeframe of five to ten minutes to capture a scene – an incredibly brief opportunity. Usually, we could only attempt two or three takes, which was unusual for us. This felt more like live performance, and we needed to nail it every time. I was astounded by how few errors occurred when it mattered most. It seemed as if there was a mechanism in our minds that activated, urging us to perform perfectly. And so, we did.

You can sense the excitement in the performances. When we film in real-life scenarios, there’s a palpable energy and adrenaline coursing through, which I aimed to preserve on camera.

“You Start to Go to Sleep and Dream of the Corners”

In this movie titled F1, Brad Pitt shares the screen with Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Shea Wigham, Javier Bardem, and several others. Damson Idris portrays Noah Pearce, a promising racer who is mentored by Pitt’s character Sonny Hayes for a Formula 1 championship. In preparation for the role, Idris worked diligently to master the skills of operating high-speed machines, aiming to deliver an authentic performance.

Initially, what I experienced was pure terror. Yet, as I look back, the thrill of reaching speeds up to 180 miles per hour, racing through tracks globally, was a chance I would have never dared to imagine.

As you drift off to sleep, you find yourself dreaming about navigating corners. Through time and repetition, your confidence has grown immensely as you’ve circled the track. In my dreams, I excelled at driving at breakneck speeds and skillfully maneuvering through the challenging turns on the track. The most difficult part for me in this scenario was simply getting the car to start. In reality, operating a hand clutch was quite challenging.

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2025-05-04 02:05