How Tom Cruise Fell for Formula 1 — From Racing With Newman to 24 Laps in an F1 Car
Tom Cruise’s passion for motorsport took root in the late 1980s, when he raced sports cars for Newman/Sharp Racing, inspired by his on-screen partner Paul Newman. In 2011, Red Bull Racing gave him the rare chance to get behind the wheel of an actual Formula 1 car at Willow Springs International Raceway in California, where he completed 24 laps and shaved 11 seconds off his lap time under the guidance of former driver David Coulthard.
Beyond the cockpit, Cruise has shown up at F1 events repeatedly — the 2021 and 2022 British Grands Prix at Silverstone, the 2023 Miami Grand Prix alongside Shakira, and the red carpet at the 2025 premiere of F1: The Movie. On Instagram after the premiere, he wrote: “Great night at the movies with my friends!! You guys crushed it!!”
More than a decade of consistent turnout suggests Cruise’s interest in the sport runs well past a Hollywood photo op.
Source: Formula1.com
