Behind the Wheel of F1’s Invisible VFX
Framestore Production VFX Supervisor Ryan Tudhope takes us trackside to explore the invisible visual effects behind F1. Working hand-in-hand with director Joseph Kosinski, the stunt team and Formula 1 crews, Tudhope and his team set out to create the most authentic racing film ever made, one where speed feels real and visual effects never break the illusion.
From early previs and techvis shaping camera rigs and crash sequences, to LiDAR-scanning six racetracks with millimetre precision, to crafting hyper-accurate CG replicas of cars never filmed on track, the work demanded technical ingenuity and creative restraint. Tudhope reveals how the VFX team reworked broadcast footage, simulated perilous rain-soaked stunts filmed in dry conditions, and built digital crowds that brought grandstands to life — all while keeping the focus on raw racing drama.
This is the story of VFX designed to disappear, serving the filmmakers’ vision with absolute precision and immersing audiences in the visceral intensity of Formula 1.
