The 2026 Oscar nominations were announced last week, and amid the usual snubs and surprises, F1: The Movie emerged as an unexpected "Best Picture" contender.
The movie, which proved a little divisive among Formula 1 fans, received a total of four nominations, with nods for Film Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects. The movie, which has 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, grossed over $631 million at the worldwide box office.
Ferrari driver and 7-time Drivers' Champion Lewis Hamilton was a producer on F1: The Movie through his Dawn Apollo Films label and also acted as a consultant. Now, he's reacted to the blockbuster's awards success.
"This is so incredibly surreal," Hamilton wrote. "It’s a tremendous honour to see the F1 movie nominated by the Academy, especially alongside such talented [artists] and storytellers."
"When we were making this movie, we knew we had something special, real and authentic on our hands and it’s amazing to see everyone’s hard work and dedication recognised," he continued. "Major shout to everyone who worked on this, so, so deserved."
Last July, Hamilton was asked about a possible F1: The Movie sequel and replied, "I think the worst thing we probably could do is to rush into doing a sequel. Most sequels are way worse, and so we don’t need to rush it. I think if we do do a sequel, I would say let’s really, really take our time in getting it even better."
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide (the show moves to YouTube in 2029, beginning with the 101st Oscars).
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars, and each category has five nominees, except for Best Picture, which has 10. Best Picture nominations are determined by eligible members from all 19 Academy branches, and all rounds of Oscars voting are conducted by secret online ballot.
Do you believe F1: The Movie has what it takes to win big at the Academy Awards? Find a full list of nominees here.