F1: the film and tire strategy: the Monaco paddock between spectacle and tactics
Friday's press conference in Monaco set the tone for two of the major issues stirring the paddock: the filming of the F1 movie with Lewis Hamilton and the new tire strategies that will influence the upcoming race. Between media coverage and technical adaptation, the teams are navigating between spectacle and competitiveness.
Present in the paddock, Lewis Hamilton has multiplied his interventions on the F1 film project produced by Apple, which is currently being shot in Monaco. “It’s an important project for me, but sport remains the priority,” he insisted.
The drivers and engineers acknowledged that the presence of cameras, actors, and rehearsals create a particular atmosphere. An engineer from a top 3 team, speaking anonymously, commented: « It’s quite unusual, it creates distractions. But it’s also good visibility for F1. »
Esteban Ocon, more diplomatic, added: « We just hope it won’t disrupt the race too much. We don’t want to overtake imaginary cars on Sunday!
On the mechanics’ side, logistics are sometimes disrupted, with areas of the paddock requisitioned for the scenes. Ferrari even requested to move certain shoots after the qualifications to avoid interference.
This cinematic filming, unprecedented in F1, brings a new but complex dynamic to the paddock. Beyond the spectacle and increased media exposure, it introduces additional pressure on the teams and drivers. The constant presence of cameras alters habits, forcing everyone to manage both their sporting responsibilities and production demands. This coexistence can sometimes generate tensions, particularly in terms of organization and concentration, as every detail matters on a circuit as demanding as Monaco.
In parallel, the visibility offered by this project enhances the appeal of the discipline to a broader audience, blending sport and entertainment. However, this increased media exposure raises the question of the balance between sporting authenticity and orchestrated spectacle, a challenge that Formula 1 will have to address carefully.
A new strategic landscape with tires
Monaco innovates this year with a more restrictive tire format: each driver must choose between medium and hard compounds, and the pit stop window is reduced.
James Vowles, Williams director, explained that it reduces the number of possible strategies. There will be fewer scenarios, we must be very precise about tire management. The key will be to minimize pit stops.
Pierre Gasly regretted this more limited format: « Fewer stops mean fewer surprises. Here, everything is decided by tenths of a second, we love these variations. »
Fernando Alonso sees an educational advantage: It’s easier for the public to understand. Strategy shouldn’t be a mystery.
Between Show and Competition
Max Verstappen summed up the paradox: « The real show is the Sunday race. The rest is a lot of noise around it. »
The presence of Hollywood mixed with a race for a more fixed format creates a unique atmosphere, where the line between show and sport is thin. But everyone agrees that the competition remains at the forefront of concerns.
