Apple Needed to Create a Camera for the F1 Movie Because Existing Broadcast Cameras Fell Short.

      Brad Pitt stands next to an F1 car while filming for the F1 movie at the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix. Lexie Harrison-Cripps/AFP via Getty Images

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      I can’t say whether the Brad Pitt F1 movie will be worthwhile, but it’s clear that the filmmakers are serious about the cinematography. The director, Joseph Kosinski, known for his stunning work on Top Gun: Maverick, is at the helm. To facilitate this, Apple, the main financial backer, created a specialized camera using components from an iPhone to capture onboard footage, since regular Formula 1 broadcast cameras weren’t deemed suitable for movie-making.

      Filmmakers attached various types of cameras in multiple positions on the fictional APX GP cars driven by Pitt and his co-star Damson Idris. However, they needed a way to achieve that well-known offset overhead perspective seen in F1 broadcasts. The cameras utilized in actual races record at a resolution too low for film and lack the precise control required for aspects like color grading in cinematic productions. Apple’s answer was to integrate an iPhone camera system into one of the small winglet pods positioned above the driver's head.

      This week, Wired and YouTuber Bobby Tonelli provided detailed insights into this small module, which boasts impressive technology. It is equipped with the camera sensor from an iPhone 15 Pro, powered by one of Apple’s A-series processors. Additionally, it includes an iPhone battery and a neutral density filter to manage the light intensity reaching the sensor. The lens is certainly of superior quality compared to those typically found on consumer smartphones.

      The camera pod is easily detachable and connects to an iPad for adjustments via a USB-C cable. Bobby Tonelli via YouTube

      Moreover, Apple needed to test the unit to ensure it could withstand the extreme conditions of being attached to one of the fastest race cars in the world, capable of reaching speeds up to 220 mph on straightaways and experiencing over 5G during turns. It also had to be as lightweight as the camera systems used in actual F1 cars, as weight is critically important in this sport.

      All footage captured by this system is recorded in Apple’s lossless ProRes format, but the camera cannot be controlled wirelessly due to FIA regulations. Therefore, the production team had to connect an iPad to the camera pod using a USB-C cable for necessary adjustments, including starting and stopping the recording.

      To the left, the APX GP F1 car is seen driving around the Silverstone Circuit during the 2024 British Grand Prix weekend for content capture. To the right, Brad Pitt exits the car during filming at the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix. Gerardo Vieyra/NurPhoto, David Davies/PA Images

      This insight into the solutions needed to film with F1 cars is intriguing and illustrates what happens when a major tech company is backing the project. While I can’t determine if this film will join the ranks of great racing movies, I have a feeling it will at least be visually stunning, which holds significant value.

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