has issued a warning to 'pure' Formula One fans ahead of the release of the F1 movie on June 25, telling them to 'be open-minded'. The racer was one of a host who made the trip to Times Square in New York for the premiere earlier this week.

The film, starring Hollywood royalty Brad Pitt and young British actor Damson Idris, and directed by Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick fame, follows a struggling fictional F1 team (APX GP) and the internal tussle between the two drivers. In order to enhance the realism of the film, APX GP embedded themselves into the paddock and pit lane throughout Grand Prix weekends. They had a hospitality unit and their own garages, and both Pitt and Idris spent significant time on track in a modified Formula Two car to film scenes for the movie.

"There's something for everyone, for sure," the Spaniard said. "I'll just say for the pure, pure F1 fan, be open-minded to Hollywood films! But for all the new fans, that's our true sport. That's what a sport is all about... teamwork, about sacrifices that we need to make, and I think for the new fans, enjoy it because it's a good entrance into our sport."

Earlier in the year, Sainz was asked about a cameo in the film. "I have a couple of moments in it, there's also another moment that I'm not in it, but I've been talked about, and it's a bit weird," revealed. "But you'll see, you'll notice exactly that scene."

To help enhance the realism and cater to more F1 fans, Jerry Bruckheimer and Kosinski brought seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton on board to offer his expertise for the racing scenes and contribute to making the film feel as authentic as possible.

"The access we've had to Formula One is totally unheard of," Hamilton told F1.com earlier this year. "We actually filmed on race weekends with the film's 11th team - APXGP, and you'll definitely see that authenticity come through in the film.

"The footage filmed throughout the racing calendar will be blended into the movie and augmented with digital techniques to insert the movie's team cars in the actual race footage, so it will seem really realistic for fans of the sport.

"But they've really welcomed my insights into the smaller details too, like the sounds a car would make when it's at a certain position on the track, or the way a crash might happen. It's what Joe [Kosinski] and Jerry [Bruckheimer] wanted from the start, to make the most authentic racing movie that's ever been made."