Ben Affleck, F1, and the team at Artists Equity are stepping into the motorsports world with Turbulence: The Greatest Mind in F1, a new documentary tracking Adrian Newey as he begins his high-stakes run with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.
The film brings together Artists Equity, Whisper, and Mark Stewart Productions, along with Formula One and Aston Martin, to tell the story of the sport’s most influential designer at a pivotal moment in his career.
A Look at Adrian Newey’s Next Chapter
Newey joins Aston Martin Aramco after one of the most dominant engineering careers in F1 history. He has racked up 12 Constructors’ Championships and 14 Drivers’ Championships, and his arrival at Aston Martin immediately raised expectations.
Turbulence follows him into this pressure-heavy period as he tries to push the British team to the front of the grid during a major regulation shift.
The filmmakers gained behind-the-scenes access at Aston Martin’s AMR Technology Campus. The documentary captures the day-to-day work of building a competitive car while showing how Newey handles the demands of joining a new team and navigating the biggest rules overhaul F1 has seen in years.
Career Triumphs and Tragedies
The documentary intercuts Newey’s current work with defining moments from his past.
Viewers will see his role in Red Bull’s championship era and revisit the devastating loss of Ayrton Senna, which remains one of the most difficult chapters in the sport. The goal is to present the human side of Newey’s story—ambition, setbacks, pressure, and the drive that shaped a decades-long career.
Newey on Why He Agreed to the Film
Newey admits he hesitated at first, but the reaction to his autobiography pushed him to reconsider. He said the film aims to show the passion behind F1 design, the relationship between drivers and engineering, and the mindset needed to bring a car to life.
He also notes the documentary covers his transition into Aston Martin in March and the challenge of designing a car under sweeping new regulations. “It’s been a wild ride so far,” he says, adding that he hopes the film captures the intensity and constant movement of the sport.
Lawrence Stroll Calls It a Rare Look Inside the Team
Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll says Newey’s arrival is a major moment for the organization.
He describes Newey as the greatest car designer in F1 and says the film gives an inside look at one of the biggest projects in global sports. The team granted what he calls “unprecedented access” to show how Newey works and how the team operates under pressure.
Ben Affleck on Why Artists Equity Backed the Project
Ben Affleck says Turbulence isn’t just about racing—it’s about a person whose career reflects reinvention and ambition. Those themes, he explains, align with the kind of stories Artists Equity wants to tell. His involvement ensures the film reaches a wide audience, including viewers who may not follow F1 closely but connect with its human stakes.
“This film is about so much more than just racing, it’s about a living legend whose unrivalled career is full of ambition and reinvention,” said Affleck in the announcement. “It’s those deep human attributes that we at Artists Equity feel so connected to and want to share in the stories we tell. We’re honoured to help bring Adrian’s story to life alongside all of our incredible partners.”
Whisper and MSP on Telling Newey’s Story
Whisper CEO Sunil Patel, who recently developed the Netflix Saudi Pro League: Kickoff documentary series, says the film offers a candid look at the standards and accountability in F1, thanks to Aston Martin’s openness.
“Whisper believes in telling stories that impact the world, and you will struggle to find a more compelling and intriguing one as Adrian Newey’s incredible F1 journey,” said Patel. “The commitment to access, authenticity and honesty from Aston Martin will give genuine insight into what it takes to thrive and succeed in a sport where only the highest standards will do, and accountability is ultimately measured in the performance of teams and machines. We’re excited to be partnering with Artists Equity and MSP to deliver this brilliantly conceived project globally, as well as in core markets of the US and UK.”
Mark Stewart of MSP, who has known Newey for years, calls the project a privilege and says it arrives at a defining moment in Newey’s professional life.
Production Team and Partners
Turbulence is produced in collaboration with Formula One and Aston Martin Aramco.
Executive producers include Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Kyle Wheeler, Brian Venturo, Stephen O’Connor, Drew Masters, Chris Grubb, Sunil Patel, Emma Everitt, and Mark Stewart. Patrick Mark and Michael Tolajian will direct and executive produce the film.
