{"id":93700,"date":"2025-12-16T10:03:40","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T10:03:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=93700"},"modified":"2025-12-16T10:03:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T10:03:41","slug":"the-story-behind-ed-sheerans-high-speed-f1-track-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2025\/12\/the-story-behind-ed-sheerans-high-speed-f1-track-drive\/","title":{"rendered":"The Story Behind Ed Sheeran\u2019s High-Speed F1 Track \u201cDrive\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ed Sheeran has recently spoken out on the personal significance of the song “Drive” for F1: The Movie, the music that closes the film. The track plays during the final scene and the end credits, which gives it a central place in the film\u2019s sound design. The project brought Sheeran into the world of Formula 1 through a collaboration focused on matching the tone of the film\u2019s final moments, and as a big racing fan, Sheeran has described the experience as “pretty cool”.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how the song came to be, and what it represents on a broader scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Track Production “Drive” was developed for F1: The Movie<\/a> after Sheeran, producer Blake Slatkin and guitarist John Mayer viewed early footage from the movie. According to Slatkin, seeing the final sequence shaped the creative direction of the song, which needed to match the visual rhythm and emotional tone of the ending. Mayer introduced the main distorted guitar riff during the writing session and this became the starting point for the full track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recording brought together a small group of well-known musicians. Dave Grohl contributed the drum parts, Pino Palladino played bass and Rami Jaffee added keyboards. They recorded in a live studio setting, which gave the track a more immediate and energetic sound. This approach aligned with the film\u2019s focus on racing and competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reach Beyond the Film<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although \u201cDrive\u201d is only one cog in the machine that is the F1 soundtrack, it has expanded beyond the scope of the film, having been adopted as a podium song in some Formula 1 environments, lending the track additional visibility. Its appearance in both entertainment and real motorsport settings helps link the fictional film world with the sport it depicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The timing of the release also aligns with Formula 1\u2019s growing popularity in broader entertainment culture. Over the past several years the sport has gained more mainstream attention through media partnerships, new sponsorship activity and collaborations with high-profile musicians. New sponsorship activity includes luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Pepsi and iGaming sponsorships, with some major global brands having their names both trackside and on cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet these sponsorships and extensions of F1 are likely to go even further. In the case of iGaming, branded or themed F1 racing games and slots could be an imminent development, with titles like the boxing-themed Frank Bruno Sporting Legends already showcasing the possibilities for athletic branded releases. This could be mutually beneficial as it would allow Formula 1 to reach players of other popular slots such as Fluffy Favourites<\/a> and Fishin’ Frenzy, who might not otherwise have had any crossover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projects like these help present F1 as part of a wider entertainment landscape rather than a niche sporting category. A song by a global pop figure like Ed Sheeran<\/a> reinforces that shift and introduces the sport to new audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Within the film, \u201cDrive\u201d functions as a concluding musical element that supports the narrative resolution. The distorted guitar and steady percussion mirror the sense of acceleration and tension seen in the final scene. The lyrics draw on themes connected to movement and personal focus, something which Ed Sheeran has expanded upon in his own reflection on the song’s meaning. It ultimately supports the mood of the story without overwhelming it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a whole, \u201cDrive\u201d is an example of how contemporary musicians are working more directly with major film productions. It also shows how Formula 1 is positioning itself within popular culture through strategic partnerships and media outreach. The collaboration between Sheeran and the film\u2019s creative team is not presented as a major artistic departure but as a targeted effort to match music with a specific cinematic moment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ed Sheeran has recently spoken out on the personal significance of the song “Drive” for F1: The Movie, the music that closes the film. The track plays during the final scene and the end credits, which gives it a central place in the film\u2019s sound design. The project brought Sheeran into the world of Formula 1 through a collaboration focused on matching the tone of the film\u2019s final moments, and as a big racing fan, Sheeran has described the experience as “pretty cool”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":93702,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"Ed Sheeran has recently spoken out on the personal significance of the song \"Drive\" for F1: The Movie, the music that closes the film. The track plays during the final scene and the end credits, which gives it a central place in the film\u2019s sound design. The project brought Sheeran into the world of Formula 1 through a collaboration focused on matching the tone of the film\u2019s final moments, and as a big racing fan, Sheeran has described the experience as \"pretty cool\".","jetpack_seo_html_title":"The Story Behind Ed Sheeran\u2019s High-Speed F1 Track \u201cDrive\u201d","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Ed Sheeran has recently spoken out on the personal significance of the song \"Drive\" for F1: The Movie, the music that closes the film. The track plays during the final scene and the end credits, which gives it a central place in the film\u2019s sound design.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27685,5200,28538,7,9,21453,21445,21446],"tags":[33349,16256,11,2421,27686,33348,33350,5541,24448,3058,12,77,370,116],"class_list":["post-93700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-essentially-lifestyle","category-films","category-gaming","category-music","category-new-releases","category-new-singles","category-reviews","category-single-reviews","tag-blake-slatkin","tag-drive","tag-ed-sheeran","tag-entertainment","tag-essentially-lifestyle","tag-f1-the-movie","tag-formula-1","tag-gaming","tag-igaming","tag-john-mayer","tag-music","tag-new-release","tag-new-single","tag-review"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5yMhl-oni","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40749,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2018\/09\/olly-murs-new-single-moves-ft-snoop-dogg-out-september-28th-as-heard-in-johnny-english-strikes-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":93700,"position":0},"title":"Olly Murs New Single ‘Moves’ Ft Snoop Dogg Out Now As Heard in \u2018Johnny English Strikes Again\u2019","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"27\/09\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Olly Murs' new single, 'Moves' (ft Snoop Dogg) is set for release on 28th September. Written by Ed Sheeran and Steve Mac, the track is a massive slice of pure pop and features on the end credits of the forthcoming film, 'Johnny English Strikes Again'. The film will be in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Releases"","block_context":{"text":"New Releases","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/new-releases\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25124,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2016\/12\/essential-advent-calendar-matt-terry-when-christmas-comes-around\/","url_meta":{"origin":93700,"position":1},"title":"Essential Advent Calendar: Matt Terry – ‘When Christmas Comes Around’","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"20\/12\/2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Unusually for us we're going with an X Factor winning song for day 20 on our Advent Calendar! Today's the turn of Matt Terry with his Ed Sheeran-penned song, 'When Christmas Comes Around'.","rel":"","context":"In "Christmas"","block_context":{"text":"Christmas","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/archived-categories\/christmas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/MATT-TERRY_FINAL.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/MATT-TERRY_FINAL.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/MATT-TERRY_FINAL.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/MATT-TERRY_FINAL.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/MATT-TERRY_FINAL.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":81056,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2023\/03\/cian-ducrots-heart-stirring-new-single-part-of-me-out-now-following-sold-out-tour-supporting-ed-sheeran\/","url_meta":{"origin":93700,"position":2},"title":"Cian Ducrot’s Heart Stirring New Single, ‘Part Of Me’ Out Now Following Sold Out Tour Supporting Ed Sheeran","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"31\/03\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Everything is falling into place for Cian Ducrot. The Irish singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist has seen his previous two singles, 'I\u2019ll Be Waiting' and the Gold-certified 'All For You', fly into the Top 20 of the UK Official Singles Chart, spending a combined total of more than six months in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Concerts"","block_context":{"text":"Concerts","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/concerts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Cian-Ducrot.png?fit=491%2C614&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":54371,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/09\/robbie-dylans-releases-debut-4-track-ep-was-it-easier\/","url_meta":{"origin":93700,"position":3},"title":"Robbie Dylan\u2019s Releases Debut 4-track EP \u2018Was It Easier\u2019","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"10\/09\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Robert Dylan Plecher, known professionally as Robbie Dylan, has released his debut EP, 'Was It Easier'.","rel":"","context":"In "EP Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"EP Reviews","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/reviews\/ep-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Robbie-Dylan.jpg?fit=478%2C717&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":87711,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2024\/08\/scottish-singer-songwriter-jake-sowerby-releases-infectious-debut-pop-anthem-all-night-long\/","url_meta":{"origin":93700,"position":4},"title":"Scottish Singer-Songwriter Jake Sowerby Releases Infectious Debut Pop Anthem, ‘All Night Long’\u00a0","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"12\/08\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Released on June 28, 'All Night Long' is the debut single from Scottish singer-songwriter, Jake Sowerby. Taking his inspiration from the likes of Ed Sheeran, and compatriot Lewis Capaldi, 'All Night Long', produced alongside US artist Matty Beats, marks Sowerby's entry into the pop scene.","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jake-Sowerby-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jake-Sowerby-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jake-Sowerby-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jake-Sowerby-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jake-Sowerby-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61546,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2020\/04\/jamie-lawson-returns-with-new-ep-moving-images\/","url_meta":{"origin":93700,"position":5},"title":"Jamie Lawson Returns With New EP \u2018Moving Images\u2019","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"16\/04\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A year on from his fifth studio album, Ivor Novello award-winning singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson releases his heartfelt 5-track EP, 'Moving Images' on May 29th via Lookout Mountain Records. The first single \u2018She Sings For Me\u2019 is available now to .","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jamie-Lawson.bmp","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jamie-Lawson.bmp 1x, https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jamie-Lawson.bmp 1.5x, https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jamie-Lawson.bmp 2x, https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jamie-Lawson.bmp 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-janncube-13641535-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93700"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93700\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}