F1 sound team recreates racetrack roar and wins BAFTA for Best Sound
The Oscar‑nominated sound team behind the film f1 captured the roar of the racetrack and took home the BAFTA for Best Sound at the 2026 ceremony in London, a win that capped months of on‑track recording and unprecedented access to Grand Prix broadcasts.
F1 team recorded uncompressed sound from nearly 100 mics
Director Joseph Kosinski’s crew integrated recording systems into Formula 1’s broadcast pipeline, capturing 4K imagery from over 20 trackside cameras and uncompressed audio from nearly 100 microphones surrounding the circuit. Emma Penney, the engineering manager named in the film’s production notes, placed 150 microphones around actual tracks and gathered audio during practice sessions, qualifying and Grand Prix races at venues that included Silverstone, Bahrain and Hungary.
How the sound team recreated the racetrack
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, nominated alongside Gareth John, Juan Peralta, Al Nelson and Gary A. Rizzo, said the team aimed to make audiences feel “inside the cars. ” Gareth John used DPA microphones on cars and around turns to capture the downshifts and tire squeals that define a lap, while supervising sound editor Al Nelson listened to every audio strand to locate specific moments—downshifts at particular corners or the distinct timbre of engines on different circuits. John called the reaction to the film “fantastic, ” and the methods helped the editors weave engines, tires, brakes and radio communications into crystal‑clear sequences in the final cut.
Award haul and what’s next
The film has already picked up a string of trophies: Best Editing at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards and a Grammy win tied to a performance by Chris Stapleton are among its honors, and the sound team’s BAFTA was presented to Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta. The movie has also been nominated for multiple Academy Awards and will compete at the ceremony on March 15.
Brad Pitt stars as a retired driver drawn back to the grid and Javier Bardem plays the team boss who brings him in to mentor a rookie driven by Damson Idris; the film has grossed more than $630 million worldwide. Producers leaned on Formula One Media & Broadcast Center staff—including Tim Bampton, Wendy Hendrickx and Dean Locke—to secure camera feeds and technical support that let the sound team capture race‑day atmospheres and match them to staged cockpit footage.
With the BAFTA now in hand, the sound team arrives at the Academy Awards as one of the film’s most decorated departments; the next confirmed milestone is the Academy Awards ceremony on March 15, where the film will be in contention for Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Film Editing and Best Visual Effects.
