By Kimberly Wilson ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Damson Idris is on a generational run right now. 

The British actor has spent the last few years collecting career highs like infinity stones, and his latest is one nobody (or maybe, everybody) saw coming: he is now an official Global Brand Ambassador for Formula 1.

“I’ve always been drawn to spaces where culture, performance, and precision meet, and Formula 1 sits right at the centre of that,” Idris said in a statement. 

The announcement follows the blockbuster success of F1: The Movie, the Brad Pitt film Idris co-starred in that became the highest-grossing sports movie ever made, clearing $630 million at the box office. But what separated this project from a typical Hollywood cash grab was how seriously everyone involved took the real thing. The film was shot at real Grand Prix weekends, so they got to see the world inside of actual paddocks, alongside the teams and drivers who do this for a living. Idris trained for the role of Joshua Pearce, a young driver fighting for his shot, and kept showing up long after the cameras stopped rolling. And luckily for him, Formula 1 noticed.

“I had an enormous amount of respect for it before making the film, but getting closer to it gave me a real understanding of the innovation, the heart, and the intensity behind everything, and the elite level the drivers operate at,” he continued. “I’m genuinely excited to step into this role as a Global Ambassador. Being part of this world now means a lot to me, and I’m proud to represent something that inspires and connects people all over the world.”

As Global Brand Ambassador, Idris will attend Grands Prix, collaborate on content, and help bring new audiences into a sport actively working to expand its reach. More than 827 million people follow F1 globally, with nearly half under 35 and 42 percent women. Idris, whose appeal cuts across generation and culture, fits exactly into what F1 is chasing right now.

“In Formula 1, we are all about authenticity and Damson is passionate about the sport and shares our vision to grow it, so it’s fantastic that we’ll continue to work with him,” said Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1. “With his incredible platform and position in the entertainment and lifestyle space, together we will push the boundaries of how we reach fans.”

While it’s a step in the right direction, let’s be honest about what sport we’re talking about. Formula 1 has had one Black driver in its entire history (shoutout to our forever fave, Lewis Hamilton). Seeing Damson Idris become a global face of the sport is not a solution to that, but it is not nothing either. It says something about where F1 is trying to go, and more importantly, who it’s only now starting to see.

The post Damson Idris Is Formula 1’s New Global Brand Ambassador appeared first on Essence.

Author: Kimberly Wilson

Read the original article on Essence.