The Abu Dhabi Film Commission and Creative Media Authority has released a short promotional video highlighting how the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Yas Marina Circuit provided a rather unique filming environment for “F1: The Movie.”
Cameras rolled on the “F1” movie, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski, during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December 2024 on the Yas Marina Circuit. A team comprising Pitt and co-star Damson Idris spent a total of 29 days filming in the emirate during three separate occasions, supported by local production partner Epic Films, according to a statement.
“F1,” which is touted as the first film to capture on track footage during a live Grand Prix race, also filmed at other actual Formula 1 events such as the British Grand Prix, the Rolex 24 at Daytona as well as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
In the video (which you can watch above), Kosinski calls the Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, just east of Abu Dhabi – which is believed to be the most expensive Formula One Track ever built – an “ideal place to film” because it’s “such a distinct setting in such a beautiful location.” Kosinski goes on to point out that “all 10 teams [in the race] allowed us to shoot a scene for an hour” which was “a really incredible experience.”
“F1,” executive producer Tim Bampton underlined the fact that “bringing in a major movie production to create an 11th team in the pit lane was a really unprecedented endeavor.”
“We had every car in their team,” noted Pitt who called it “just amazing.”
Meanwhile, after Yas Marina hosted the Middle East premiere of “F1: The Movie” on June 26, the film has been performing well in the region. Most notably, it has overperformed in the United Arab Emirates, scoring a roughly $2.7 million first frame that is being touted as the biggest opening in the emirate for an Apple movie and also for Pitt and Kosinski.
Abu Dhabi has been stepping up efforts to lure more film and TV shoots to the United Arab Emirates’ capital by enhancing its new rebate, which is now set to reach up to 50% of qualified below-the-line spend starting in January.
Major Hollywood productions that have shot in Abu Dhabi over the past decade include “Dune: Part Two,” “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “6 Underground” and “Furious 7,” as well as Bollywood hits such as “Vikram Vedha,” “Tiger Zinda Hai” and “Bharat.”
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