Apple Built a Custom iPhone Camera to Film Real F1 Races

To capture realistic, high-speed racing scenes for its upcoming F1 movie, Apple built a custom camera module using parts from the iPhone, reports Wired. The device was mounted directly onto real Formula One cars, giving the filmmakers a true driver's-eye perspective.



The idea came from a simple problem: you can't strap a cinema camera to an F1 car. They're too big, too heavy, and would mess with the car's performance. But the onboard broadcast cameras built into the vehicles aren't much help either — they shoot at lower resolutions and use color profiles that don't match the rest of the film. So Apple stepped in.


The camera they came up with looks like a standard F1 broadcast module on the outside — same shape, same weight — but inside, it's all iPhone. It uses an iPhone camera sensor, an A-series chip, and a battery from an iPhone. Apple didn't say exactly which model, but since the system was used in real races during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, it may have included the A17 Pro chip and 48MP camera from the iPhone 15 Pro. A neutral density filter was included to help manage exposure in bright conditions.



Apple also stress-tested the module to handle the demands of racing — including extreme heat, shock, and vibration — and it reportedly exceeded Formula One's own durability standards.

The system ran a custom version of iOS with modified camera firmware. Footage was captured in Log using ProRes, giving editors more control during color grading. That work directly influenced two new features introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro: Log video recording and support for the ACES color workflow.


There were no wireless radios onboard, so camera settings were adjusted through a custom iPad app connected via USB-C. Filmmakers could tweak frame rate, shutter angle, white balance, and other settings, and start or stop recording in real time.

The F1 movie, starring Brad Pitt, is the latest in a growing list of films shot partially on iPhone. Apple has heavily promoted the project, which hits theaters worldwide on June 27.