Formula 1® returns to racing with Five Lights, a new cinematic campaign voiced by Colin Farrell

Formula 1® debuted a new global marketing campaign, Five Lights, headlined by a 90-second film voiced by Academy Award-nominated actor and F1 fan Colin Farrell and set to the music track Reign by UNKLE featuring Ian Brown, ahead of the sport’s return at the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2026.

Featuring all 22 drivers, Five Lights captures the anticipation and intensity of Formula 1’s iconic pre-race countdown, building excitement for the second half of the season. The campaign launches as Formula 1 continues to grow globally, with more than 830 million fans worldwide and sell-out crowds at all 11 Grands Prix so far this season. Ahead of the season restart at Zandvoort on 21 August, Formula 1® has unveiled its new global marketing campaign, Five Lights, featuring all 22 drivers alongside the voice of Academy Award- nominated actor and Formula 1 fan Colin Farrell.

Running from 16 August to 13 September, the campaign centres on a high-impact 90-second film: https://youtu.be/d3DD0ptEdBQ supported by creative assets across social media and digital platforms. Throughout the campaign, Formula 1 will take over six iconic advertising locations across the UK and the US, including Piccadilly Circus and The Outernet in London, Sunset Boulevard, The Moxy and the Music District in Los Angeles, Times Square at the intersection of 45th Street and Broadway in New York, and Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip, bringing the campaign to some of the world’s most recognisable entertainment and cultural destinations.

The film explores one of the sport’s most recognisable and dramatic moments: the pre-race countdown. As each of the five lights illuminates, the audience is drawn deeper into the driver’s mindset, capturing the focus, anticipation and composure required to compete at the very limit of human and technical performance. The campaign was developed and produced by creative branded content agency, WING, in close collaboration with Formula 1. Narrated by passionate F1 fan Farrell and set to the music track Reign by UNKLE featuring Ian Brown, the film steadily builds tension before the lights go out and the action is unleashed on track.

The campaign launches at the halfway point of another record-breaking year for Formula 1. The sport now boasts more than 830 million fans worldwide, while the 2026 season has delivered 11 consecutive sell-out Grands Prix and six new circuit attendance records. Formula 1 has also continued to strengthen its global footprint through rising television audiences, growing digital engagement and a diverse roster of commercial partners. The FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2026 marks the beginning of the second half of the season, with Mercedes leading both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships. Five Lights sets the stage for an exciting run to the finale, building anticipation among fans, teams and drivers alike as the championship battles intensify and the fight for Formula 1 glory continues.

Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer, Formula 1, said: “Five Lights captures one of the most powerful moments in Formula 1, when anticipation, excitement and pressure all come together just before the race begins. As we return for the second half of what has already been an incredible season, we wanted to create something that reflects the emotion of our sport and the connection our fans feel with the teams and drivers every race weekend.”

Source: Formula 1

  Campaign, Colin Farrell, Emily Prazer, Five Lights, Formula 1, Global, Grands Prix, Ian Brown, Marketing, WING