Domenicali explains why F1 isn't racing into movie sequel

Formula 1’s latest box-office smash isn’t heading straight for a sequel pit stop. At least not yet, according to F1 boss Stefano Domenicali.

As whispers swirl in Hollywood and the paddock about a follow-up to F1 The Movie, the Italian has gently eased a foot onto the brake pedal, urging patience while the sport savours the afterglow of a $600m global hit.

Speaking after a breathless end to the 2025 season, Domenicali struck a note that mixed ambition with restraint – a familiar blend for a championship balancing entertainment, credibility and explosive growth.

Letting the First Lap Breathe

The success of F1 The Movie – starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris – has been credited with turbocharging interest in the sport, particularly in North America, where Netflix’s Drive to Survive had already laid the groundwork.

With Apple confirmed to take over US broadcasting duties from ESPN, the commercial momentum is undeniable.

But Domenicali is wary of rushing art, sport and spectacle into a hastily assembled encore.

“Well, I think that is never say never,” he said. “We’re working on a plan. It will not be eventually... too soon, because it needs to digest.”

In other words, the chequered flag may have fallen on the first film, but its slipstream still has plenty of power. A sequel, if it comes, must earn its place on the grid.

“There will be a longer effect of the first movie,” he explained. “And the next one has to be credible, authentic and new."

A Season That Wrote Its Own Script

That sense of authenticity was everywhere on track in 2025. Formula 1 delivered a finale worthy of cinema, with the drivers’ championship going down to the final race in Abu Dhabi and three contenders still in the fight.

“I think it has been amazing, an amazing season,” Domenicali said. “We were able to wrap the last race with three drivers competing. Seeing that they are all of them fighting for each other is just amazing.”

Beyond the drama, the numbers tell a broader story of expansion — new audiences, new partners and a growing sense that F1 has cracked a global cultural code.

“This season has been phenomenal because we have seen growth. We have seen new fans coming in. We have seen a lot of interest from a lot of commercial partners, understanding the value of our proposition.”

• Read also: Bruckheimer confirms talks with Hamilton on F1 The Movie sequel

Central to that appeal is a new generation of drivers, none more emblematic than newly crowned world champion Lando Norris, whose personality resonates far beyond the paddock.

“Very positive, younger, energetic,” he said in regard to the young Briton. “They are a role model for a lot of people. They need to remember that they are a unique talent.”

Big Moves, Bigger Ambitions

With Cadillac set to join the grid in 2026, Formula 1’s push into the United States is accelerating — a challenge Domenicali has already framed as “a game for big boys”.

In that context, the temptation to strike while the cinematic iron is hot is obvious.

Yet the message from the top is clear: growth is strongest when it feels earned. If F1 The Movie does get a sequel, it won’t be rushed out of the garage.

For now, Formula 1 is content to let its first Hollywood victory lap breathe – confident that when the lights go out again, the story will be worth the wait.

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