Damson Idris just went from playing racer to living in the paddock. About a year after co-starring in the hit Formula 1 movie, the British actor is now an official, global brand ambassador for the real thing.
From the big screen to the grid
The partnership became official on February 25, and it is exactly what it sounds like: Idris will be at Grands Prix, help cook up content with the series, and be one of the faces trying to pull new fans into the sport. Formula 1 even rolled it out with a welcome note calling this 'a new era with a familiar face.' It is a neat full-circle move for an actor who spent a lot of last year filming inside actual race weekends.
'I'm delighted to welcome Damson Idris officially to the Formula 1 family,' said Stefano Domenicali, the series' President and CEO. 'In Formula 1, we are all about authenticity and Damson is passionate about the sport and shares our vision to grow it, so it's fantastic that we'll continue to work with him.'
Why Idris makes sense here
His connection to the sport got real during production of the Joseph Kosinski-directed F1 film, which also starred Brad Pitt, shot at real Grands Prix, and put Idris inside the paddock alongside teams and drivers. The movie cleared more than $630 million worldwide and scored four Academy Award nominations, so yes, the profile boost was strong.
'I've always been drawn to spaces where culture, performance, and precision meet, and Formula 1 sits right at the centre of that,' Idris said. 'I had an enormous amount of respect for it before making the film. But getting closer to it gave me a real understanding of the innovation, the heart, and the intensity behind everything, and the elite level the drivers operate at.'
Timing is everything
F1 is barreling toward a major reset in 2026 with new cars and new engine regulations, and the league is already beating the drum. Earlier this week, Idris popped up in the 60-second 'All To Drive For' season launch spot alongside the 22 drivers currently on the grid, teasing the changes on the way for 2026.
- Idris's ambassador role kicked off February 25
- He will attend Grands Prix, collaborate on content, and help introduce new audiences to the sport
- The recent F1 movie he co-starred in grossed over $630 million globally and earned four Oscar nominations
- F1's 2026 regulations overhaul is the backdrop for the tie-up
- The 2026 season opens in Melbourne, Australia, on March 6
Clean fit, good timing, and a straightforward play: the guy who helped sell F1 on screen is now going to help sell it in real life.