Russell on F1 movie: I've been so impressed

The feature-length movie, , will star Brad Pitt as a racing driver alongside Damson Idris in the other leading role.

Pitt, who plays aging F1 racer Sonny Hayes, is brought back from retirement by team owner Ruben Cervantes (played by Javier Bardem) to partner rising sensation Joshua Pearce (Idris) at the fictional APXGP outfit.

The film was shot over the course of three years, with crews present during several race weekends throughout Formula 1 seasons. Pitt and Idris drove an APXGP F1 car, based on an existing Formula 2 chassis, on the track between sessions of real racing.

Lewis Hamilton is one of the Executive Producers of F1, and a lot of attention was paid to make sure the movie would be as true to life and authentic as possible.

Russell, who will appear in the film along with many F1 drivers past and present, has seen snippets of the finished product and reported back to the media regarding his thoughts.

Speaking at an event organised by IWC Schaffhausen prior to the Miami Grand Prix, Russell commented on how impressed he was by the authenticity of the upcoming movie.

He said: "The F1 movie is really going to showcase that so well. It's got so much drama. We've been so lucky to see some clips already.

"And I've been so impressed with what has been done because it's sometimes very challenging to really showcase the speed that we go through the corners. And with the visuals that it's got, it's been truly amazing. I think it's going to be great for Formula 1 too," added Russell.

The Mercedes driver alluded to a moment during a race weekend which convinced him that the F1 film will be just as exciting for true fans of the sport as it will be for the average moviegoer.

He stated: "To making this movie so authentic, I think it was in Silverstone a couple of years ago, we were lined up on the grid, ready for the national anthem.

"And I looked across and I saw Brad and Damson standing there alongside us. And I had to look twice, like there's some new drivers on the grid here!

"Then also when it came to the driving side, both of them were in the Mercedes F1 simulator, getting the practice in, because obviously they aren't racing drivers. And I remember one day I was a bit delayed because Brad was doing some extra laps in the simulator because he was just enjoying it so much.

"And I think that's what will make this movie so authentic because the whole team were taking it so seriously," concluded the Briton.

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff also chimed in, mentioning how technology was used to add to the drama and realism aspects of the film.

Wolff said: "The technology is so great that you have used that seriously, even for petrolheads like us, it's authentic.

"And that is what I'm really looking forward, whether the public is going to enjoy that [authenticity] whilst having the amazing story of the drama, the glory, the love, the romance, the comedy you said is all in there."