F1 announced another new partnership with Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios which starts from 2020 season with the focus on star power at grand prix event.
Following a success of ‘Will Smith’s The Bucket List’ on Facebook Watch, where he and his son went head-to-head in a GT car at Yas Marina Circuit, F1 has decided to sign a deal with Smith’s Westbrook Studios to forge a ‘new broadcast entertainment initiative’.
Smith visited the 2018 Abu Dhabi GP to shoot an episode of ‘Will Smith’s The Bucket List’ – which showcases the new things or things the actor has never done in life. With the help of Lewis Hamilton, he tried to take on his elder son on a short loop of the circuit.
The success of the episode pushed F1 to sign the new deal which will launch in 2020 with the broadcast to ‘feature A-list celebrity guests, pre-filmed stunts and challenges’, along with the live performances of musicians at the grand prix events.
The idea is to extend on the fan engagement across multiple digital formats where the fans can access to more content from the grand prix weekends – things which they have never had an access to, especially on the celebrity side.
Sean Bratches said: “As we continue to build F1’s entertainment and content offering, partnering with Will and Westbrook and the team at Apollo is an amazing opportunity to attract even more star power to F1 and the Grands Prix around the world, engaging with an even wider audience.”
Smith added: “I’ve always been a massive fan of the F1 world and fell even more in love with the sport while shooting an episode of ‘Will Smith’s The Bucket List’ with Lewis Hamilton at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“F1’s commitment to creating engaging and inspiring content for its fans mirrors our mission at Westbrook Studios. The synergy of our storytelling is undeniable, and I’m excited for fans to join us on this wild ride.”
The new association comes not only on the basis of success of Smith’s show but also Netflix’s ‘Drive To Survive’ – which showcased the 2018 F1 season from a different angle. A lot more fans have tuned in to watch F1 after watching the show.