F1 Wins Best Sound Oscar at 98th Academy Awards

The film "F1" won the Academy Award for Best Sound at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles, marking a significant achievement for the motorsport drama co-produced by Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the movie stars Brad Pitt as veteran driver Sonny Hayes, who returns to the sport to mentor rookie Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, and help revive a struggling fictional team.

Released in June 2025, "F1" drew audiences with its authentic depiction of the sport, filmed during actual Grand Prix weekends in 2023 and 2024. Pitt and Idris drove modified Formula 2 cars on track alongside real drivers, integrating the production seamlessly into the F1 paddock. The film introduced a fictional 11th team to the grid, capturing the intensity of racing through immersive visuals and sound design. It earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Film Editing and Best Visual Effects, but secured the win in Best Sound, where the team of Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta was honored for their work evoking the roar of engines and cockpit tension.