Sport as a commercial media spectacle: The case of the “F1: The Movie”

Abstract

Using a critical political economy of media and sport framework, this study explores Liberty Media’s Formula 1 media strategy, specifically 2025’s F1: The Movie, as a case study. To address our research questions—in what ways does F1: The Movie serve as both a cultural text and commercial tool, and what are the broader implications of Formula 1’s media model for sport authenticity and fandom in the digital age—we use textual analysis to examine trade and popular press articles regarding the film, including its commercial success, production elements, and promotion strategies. We find that the film’s narrative sacrifices crucial sporting authenticity by relying on fictionalized rule breaking and impossible scenarios to fulfill the blockbuster mandate of the spectacle to attract audiences to not only the film but also to Formula 1 and to promote Apple platforms, including its streaming service that acquired Formula 1 broadcasting rights in the U.S.