The Association of Motion Picture Sound has presented F1 with the AMPS Excellence in Sound for a Feature Film Award and honoured Simon Hayes with an AMPS Fellowship during a prestigious Awards reception.
The F1 sound team – Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John AMPS and Dash Mason-Malik AMPS – received the award, as voted by members of AMPS, the leading UK craft guild representing sound professionals in film and television.
They were presented with the coveted polished bronze trophies by AMPS chair George Foulgham, in the company of AMPS members and 2026 Film Award nominees from Frankenstein, Sinners and Warfare.
The team from the remaining nominated film, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, were unable to attend.
Upon receiving the award, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, on behalf of the F1 sound team, commented: “Receiving this award from AMPS is a huge honour for us. Creating the soundtrack for F1 was challenging and demanding; a true showcase for what can be achieved through collaboration and a lot of enthusiasm.
“From production to post, our pit crew of sound recordists and editors came together to create cinematic magic. Having our work acknowledged by fellow sound professionals is both humbling and deeply rewarding, thank you!”
This year, AMPS has honoured acclaimed sound mixer Simon Hayes with its prestigious Fellowship in recognition of his “sustained excellence and outstanding contribution to the craft”.
His credits include Wicked, Guardians of the Galaxy, No Time to Die, I Swear, The Little Mermaid, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Prometheus and Les Misérables, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Sound Mixing.
The Fellowship is awarded by AMPS Council, which is made up of members representing multiple sound disciplines across film and television.
Hayes said: “It is an extraordinary honour to receive the AMPS Fellowship Award. AMPS represents the very best of our craft, and to be recognised by fellow sound professionals whose skill and dedication I admire so deeply means a tremendous amount to me.
“As a young sound technician, becoming a member of AMPS meant everything to me. I’ve spent my whole career following AMPS aims of building a creative partnership between production and post.
“Sound is always a collaborative endeavour, and I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented crews in the world. This recognition is something I will treasure, and I hope to continue championing the artistry and innovation of production sound for many years to come.”
The reception took place at Warner Bros. De Lane Lea in London.
More information is available on the AMPS website.
