- The F1 movie premiere New York was a star-studded Formula One event
- The F1 movie is an action-packed, athletic, sports drama
- It is about Sonny Hayes, a former Formula One driver, whose career ended tragically in the 1990s
The F1 movie premiere New York drew a star-studded cast of drivers and celebrities, but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen chose to skip it to spend time with his newborn daughter Lily and fiancée Kelly Piquet.
All F1 drivers arrived in style and took a gaiety walk in the red carpet in New York’s Times Square. However, the four-time Red Bull driver did not attend the event. He said that he would spend that time with his young daughter, Lily and his fiancée, Kelly Piquet.
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She is only a month old – born in May 2025. Verstappen said spending time with Lily was more gratifying than flying to New York for the premiere of the F1 movie.
Nevertheless, he told the press after the Canadian Grand Prix that he would watch the movie later should the ‘moment feel right.’
He added that it would be wrong if anyone pushed him to attend the premiere against his wishes.
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Where was F1 Movie Premiere New York?
The famous and iconic Times Square is New York hosted the F1 movie premiere attended by most F1 drivers and international celebrities.
The F1 movie premiere New York doubled up as a fashion show. Each attendee stepped out dazzling, and so were their girlfriends.
Hollywood star Brad Pitt also graced the movie premiere in the company of his 32-year-old girlfriend Ines de Ramon, and posed for photos on the red carpet.
Pitt set the stage for more F1 couples to walk through the red carpet hand-in-hand and took a moment to pose for photos.
Ferrari driver, Lewis Hamilton looked dashing. Australian publication, Elle, described him as the best-dressed attendee.
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The F1 British driver donned an immaculate white jacket, black pants and dark glasses, giving a British royal vibe.
His teammate Charles Leclerc showed up with his girlfriend Alexandra Saint Mleux. They both looked great in their simple, but elegant outfits.
Leclerc wore a perfectly tailored suit and a tie while Mleux wore a long, flowing black gown with a diamond necklace.
McLaren driver Lando Norris kept it simple but dashing. He wore a black suit, white shirt and white sneakers. Unlike Leclerc, who was in the company of his girlfriend, Mleux, Norris was all alone.
He had earlier broken up with his girlfriend Margarida Corciero, and recent rumours suggested they were back together, but she was a no-show at the event.
Mercedes driver George Russell turned up in a chocolate brown suit and sneakers. He crowned it with a broad smile throughout the event.
Williams’ driver coloured the F1 movie premiere New York with his other half, Lily Muni.
The Thai F1 driver wore. Black suit, black shirt and black shoes, while Muni wore a red, flowing gown with red designer stilettos.
However, Carlos Sainz did not live up to the fashion exuberance seen with the rest of the Formula One drivers.
He wore a dark suit with a grey sweater and not-so-good-looking shoes. Still, his energy and smile carried the day.
What is the F1 Movie about?
The F1 movie is an action-packed, athletic sports drama which tells about Sonny Hayes (who is played by Brad Pitt).
Hayes is a former Formula One driver whose career ended tragically in the 1990s due to a horrific accident.
Much later, he comes out of his retirement to be persuaded by his former friend and team owner, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), to tutor a hot-spurred, young rookie, Joshua Noa Pearce (played by Damson Idris), for the fictional APXGP team.
The movie takes place against the backdrop of actual F1 circuits, with the appearance of actual F1 teams and drivers.
It combined mentorship, redemption, and rivalry on the tracks. It is more than a case of coming back to coach, but to race.
Pearce rediscovers his love for racing and dealing with ghosts of his past.
Max Verstappen Shares First Moments with Daughter Lily After F1 Movie Premiere
Max Verstappen missed the F1 movie premiere in New York to spend time with his newborn daughter Lily. Since then, he has shared bits and pieces of life as a new father.
Lily was born in May 2025 and has rapidly become the most important thing in the Red Bull driver’s life. Verstappen said in a recent interview that the first few months had been both tiring and fulfilling. He called being a parent “the most amazing and grounding experience” of his life.
Even though the Formula 1 schedule is very busy, Verstappen has always put his family first. He often shares sweet moments with his fiancée Kelly Piquet and daughter Lily on social media. Verstappen has embraced the slower, more personal side of life outside of racing, from late-night bottle feeds to early-morning walks.
The pair has been careful to keep Lily out of the public eye by only sharing selective images and updates to protect her privacy.
Fans and other drivers praised Verstappen for skipping the New York premiere, saying it showed how much he cared for his family over his media commitments.
Kelly Piquet has also posted updates on her Instagram about how the pair is trying to juggle being parents with their work. The 27-year-old model and businesswoman said the experience was “challenging, exhausting, but absolutely magical.” She also said that witnessing Verstappen connect with Lily had brought their family closer together.
Verstappen has also gone back to his training and team duties off the track to make sure that being a father doesn’t impact his performance in the 2026 season.
The Red Bull squad has shown support, and team principal Christian Horner said that Verstappen’s commitment to his family “makes him more motivated and focused than ever” when he is driving.
Fans are now very excited about any public appearances by the Verstappen family, and there are rumors regarding when they will all be together for the first time. Max is still determined to enjoy every moment with Lily and Kelly, showing that even Formula One stars can put family and love ahead of racing.
