Ben Affleck makes low-key F1 visit: Is new film on the cards?

Ben Affleck kept a noticeably low profile when he arrived at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit for the F1 Grand Prix on Friday.

The 53-year-old actor stepped into the paddock in a simple blue jacket with a brown collar layered over a grey sweater, paired with khakis. Clean-shaven and unusually reserved, he drew quiet attention as he made his way toward the garages.

The appearance inevitably recalled his viral 2016 “Sad Affleck” moment, the photo that captured him looking worn out in London. 

But this time, his demeanour felt less weary and more introspective — an older, quieter version of the actor who has long been in the public eye.

Affleck’s presence at the race wasn’t merely casual. Alongside Matt Damon, he’s executive producing a documentary on Adrian Newey, one of Formula 1’s most influential engineers.

Their company, Artists Equity, is developing the project — currently titled Turbulence: The Greatest Mind in Formula One — in collaboration with Whisper Group and Mark Stewart Productions.

The film will follow Newey’s storied career and his recent move from Red Bull to Aston Martin Aramco, offering rare insight into his work inside the team’s Silverstone headquarters. 

With 12 Constructors’ titles and 14 Drivers’ Championships tied to his designs, Newey’s impact is unparalleled.

Affleck has described the documentary as being “about a living legend whose unrivaled career is full of ambition and reinvention,” adding that the project reflects Artists Equity’s commitment to exploring “deep human attributes” in the stories it chooses to tell.

Affleck’s Vegas stop came during an already packed week. A day earlier, he was seen in Los Angeles before heading to the American Cinematheque Award ceremony honouring Michael B. Jordan, where he appeared onstage in a black suit among a lineup of notable presenters.