World’s Fastest FPV Drone vs F1 Car (ft. Max Verstappen)

**Fans don’t just want to see Formula 1, they want to feel it.**

The challenge

Red Bull challenged us to showcase Formula 1 in a completely new way—capturing the raw speed and intensity of the sport to bring fans closer to the action than they’d ever experienced before.

The insight

Audiences crave new ways to experience the sports they love, always seeking ways to make them feel closer, more connected, and deeply immersed in the action. We call these human truths. While traditional Formula 1 broadcasts deliver drama and personality, the sheer speed and intensity of the actual racing feel out of reach, leaving fans feeling removed from the thrill of it all.

They see the action, but they don’t feel it.

We knew from past projects, like our FPV drone run at Valparaiso (anchor text link to project), that putting viewers right into the heart of the action unlocks a whole new level of excitement and tension, giving fans that hit of adrenaline they rarely experience through traditional sports content.

We realised with the right team, we could bring this same energy to Formula 1.

Our game plan

Drawing on our extensive experience in creating highly successful YouTube content for Red Bull, we knew that capturing a full flying lap with four-time World Champion Max Verstappen at Silverstone would require meticulous planning, compelling story beats, and a clear vision for the platform.

First, we had to figure out if it was even possible for a drone to handle the demands of capturing a Formula 1 car at full race speed, navigating the twists and turns of a track like Silverstone. That meant partnering with the right partners, exploring what was possible, and developing new tech along the way.

Next, we mapped out key story beats, capturing the full behind-the-scenes journey of this ambitious YouTube project, all while ensuring the ultimate ‘hero moment '—the flying lap—would explode across social media.

Testing the drone was one thing, but working at an F1 circuit is another story entirely. With limited track time, tight schedules, and restricted access to Max and the Red Bull Racing Team, every minute mattered.

Bringing it to life

A year and a half in the making, this project pushed the limits of what was technically—and creatively—possible. Working with Dutch Drone Gods, we spent a year prototyping, testing, and refining the world’s fastest FPV camera drone, custom-built to keep up with an F1 car.

Along the way, we battled battery failures, signal dropouts, and the relentless demands of capturing a single lap at full speed. From early test runs with Liam Lawson to fine-tuning performance with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, every moment built towards one final opportunity with Max Verstappen.

On a rainy February day, with only 15 minutes with the athlete, our agile team delivered one of the most visually stunning moments in motorsports history. Alongside the groundbreaking footage, we crafted a narrative-driven film that balanced fast-paced storytelling and immersive, jaw-dropping visuals optimised for a YouTube audience, offering something entirely new for die-hard fans and newcomers alike.

Results

The impact was immediate. Within the first 72 hours of release on Red Bull's YouTube channel, the video reached #5 globally, accumulating over 6 million views. It has since surpassed 30 million, becoming Red Bull's most successful content in 2024 and the highest-viewed piece of F1 content on YouTube of all time.