Formula 1 drivers are used to being in the Netflix spotlight, but not necessarily for acting in films!
Yet, Esteban Ocon has quietly made his cinema debut, and it wasn’t in the highly anticipated film “F1” with Brad Pitt, but in a French comedy streaming on Netflix. A brief cameo, but one that certainly amused fans.
Read more:
- Netflix is once again betting on Formula 1 to skyrocket its subscriber count, but the bill will far exceed $90M
- AI in F1 soon? It would be historic, but one final obstacle remains—even with the millions of euros this company is willing to spend
A F1 driver in a Netflix film?
In “Lune de miel avec ma mère” (“Honeymoon with my mother“), Esteban Ocon plays Damien, a character who bears an uncanny resemblance to him. It’s a French film inspired by another Spanish film, which is also available on Netflix. The story revolves around Lucas, a man abandoned on his wedding day by his fiancée, who leaves him for a certain Damien… a Formula 1 driver for Alpine. Sound familiar? In one memorable scene, the soon-to-be bride escapes during the ceremony to join Ocon, who is waiting for her outside the town hall in an Alpine A110. A nice nod for a driver who represented the French team for several seasons before joining Haas in 2025. Although his role is brief, Ocon shows plenty of humor. When Élodie, the runaway fiancée, tells her ex that she is now with an F1 driver, he is completely shocked, convinced that his rival was… a mechanic. Ocon then delivers a sarcastic “Ouch, tough luck for him,” a line that shows he handled his camera debut quite well.
A cameo that intrigues Formula 1 fans
Esteban Ocon’s unexpected cameo surprised many, especially since it was revealed only a few days before the film’s release. Netflix France teased his appearance via an Instagram story, later confirmed by Ocon himself: “Yes, that was me,” he said, without giving too many details about the opportunity. This appearance is particularly surprising because of its timing. Ocon had just changed teams, leaving Alpine for Haas. Seeing him play an Alpine driver, even though he has moved on, is unexpected, and one might imagine that his new team might have preferred to avoid this nod to his former outfit. Moreover, the film takes some liberties with Formula 1. A scene meant to take place in Monaco was actually shot at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a detail that won’t escape keen fans. And in the story, Ocon and his new partner are about to head to the Miami Grand Prix, even though the actual F1 calendar would likely not schedule these races back-to-back.
Esteban Ocon: A future in cinema?
While this cameo remains a small part of his career, Esteban Ocon might have developed a taste for cinema. His role in “Lune de miel avec ma mère” comes just before the release of the blockbuster “F1,” in which he shares the screen with Brad Pitt. This time, he isn’t playing a fictional character—he is playing himself in a scene where he crashes into Brad Pitt’s character on the Abu Dhabi circuit. With this double appearance on the big screen in 2025, Ocon joins the short list of drivers who have tried their hand at cinema. Although he may not yet have the charisma of Lewis Hamilton or the media ease of Daniel Ricciardo, his natural presence in front of the camera could open new doors for him.
This article explores Esteban Ocon’s unexpected cameo in a Netflix French film, where he plays an Alpine F1 Team driver in the midst of a romantic plot. A fun appearance that comes at the moment he switches to Haas, and that precedes his role in the film “F1” with Brad Pitt. It raises the question of whether cinema could become a new avenue for the French driver.
Images: © Alpine F1 Team / © Netflix
