Damson Idris: Lewis Beautiful Hamilton who we all admire

During filming Hamilton kept a beady eye on the actors, Idris included, their actions and interactions inside and outside the car to ensure there are no "BS moments" that would be caught by motor racing fans who watch the movie due for release next year.

Joseph Kosinski directs the F1 movie and produces it with Hamilton as well as Brad Pitt, Jerry Bruckheimer, Chad Oman, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner. The plot is about an F1 driver (Pitt) who comes out of retirement to mentor and team up with a younger driver (Idris) and their subsequent escapades.

During an interview conducted ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Idris spoke about the movie in which he plays, Joshua Pierce, a young rookie driver for the fictional Apex F1 Team. The 32-year-old actor describes the experience as "unlike anything anyone’s ever experienced before" in his acting career.

A Formula 1 fan but not a racing driver by any means, Idris said: "There's no better person to teach you about Formula 1 than Lewis Hamilton. To have someone who lives breathes and sleeps Formula 1, we're in no better hands."

Idris continued: "It doesn't matter what art form you're involved in; you’ll always take a bit of Lewis and apply it to your life. It's a whirlwind, we're driving the cars for real.

"I play the character of Joshua Pearce, a young rookie driver on a fictional team called APEX. So Lewis comes in. And he essentially calls BS... he lets us know that, 'hey, that wouldn't happen' which is a rarity in this art form."

As for the hands-on experience, Idris said: "It's a fictional story but unlike anything I've ever done before. They put me behind the wheel, and I had some driving experience. I've driven fast cars before, but it's unlike anything that we're doing right now."

As for working with a living legend of F1 and knight, Idris enthused: "Lewis Beautiful Hamilton, who we all admire who we're all inspired by. He just gave an amazing talk downstairs, which was incredibly moving for me. So yeah, I'll always show up for him. He doesn't get enough praise.

"Aside from being just a fantastic sportsman, he has pushed the sport in such a positive direction. He's innovative. When I think 'Lewis', I think of inspiring, it doesn't matter what art form you're involved in. You could always take a bit of Lewis and apply it to your life."

And finally, a plug for the sponsors IWC Schaffhausen who made the interview possible, Idris signed off: "I love IWC. I love everything they stand for. I love how innovative they are."

The $300-million 'F1' movie is scheduled for release on 27 June 2025.