Inside the F1 Paddock: Photographer Antoine Lapeyre’s Journey

For many fans, Formula 1 photography looks like the ultimate dream job – standing trackside capturing the fastest sport in the world.

But behind every image is a demanding reality that most people never see.

Long days, relentless deadlines and the pressure to deliver images that will be published around the world within hours.

In this edition of Industry Insider, Formula 1 photographer Antoine Lapeyre shares how his journey began at a small autocross track in France, the turning point that helped him break into the F1 paddock, and why relationships and kindness have been the most important skills in building his career.

Where did your story in sport begin?

I started in sport as most of us do: as a fan. I got into motorsport very early. There was an autocross track in my little village in France, so I used to go there with my dad, who was a big fan himself.

I started photographing motorsport in regional categories in France and instantly loved it.

Formula 1 involves a lot of work. We’re talking about 12 to 15-hour days. You’re out there shooting, meeting people, editing, captioning and delivering photos. It’s quite an intense job.

But the adrenaline you get from it is quite special.

It’s a true privilege to end a weekend exhausted from doing something I dreamed about doing not that long ago.

What does your role involve that people don’t see?

The part of the job people don’t see is the amount of work that goes into it – and it’s not a sexy job at all.

For agency photographers especially, the days are very long. Right now it’s almost 11pm the day before the Australian GP and I’m at the Airbnb with my friends editing pictures, publishing them, writing captions and sending everything out.

There’s a lot of work behind the photos themselves.

We have to deliver every single day so the images can go into newspapers, websites and publications around the world. Even with all that, it doesn’t really pay that well.

That’s the unglamorous part people don’t realise, and I think it’s important for people to understand before chasing it.

That’s also why I try to meet people in real life and talk about it openly – to share the reality of the job.

What has been the biggest turning point in your journey so far?

The biggest turning point was getting my accreditation.

In 2022 I came to races as a spectator and spent a lot of time and energy trying to find a way into the paddock.

But the real turning point was moving from France to Singapore to work in the tech industry. That move allowed me to travel to more races and start building a portfolio.

Once I had that portfolio, I was eventually able to get accredited – and that’s basically how it works.

I actually moved to Singapore the week of the Singapore Grand Prix in 2022. Even though I couldn’t stay in Singapore for that race, I travelled to Korea and Japan instead.

That period was definitely a major turning point in my journey.

What’s something you’ve learned about working in sport that surprised you?

One thing that surprised me is that the superstars you see on TV are just normal people.

Before Formula 1, I did an internship at my favourite football club in France in 2019. It was a club I had supported since I was four years old, so it felt like discovering a world I had looked up to for my entire life.

What I realised is that most players – especially the ones without big egos – are just normal people who are happy to talk and interact when the timing is right.

What people sometimes forget is that these athletes receive constant attention and interruptions in their lives. At some point, it becomes exhausting.

Respecting their time and space is the only real way to have a genuine conversation with them – because at the end of the day they are just normal human beings.

What skill has helped you most in building your career?

It’s difficult to point to one specific skill.

In my case, soft skills have been the most important – especially reaching out to people and being proactive. Technical skills came later. I learned those along the way.

But building relationships, talking to people and creating connections has been essential. That approach helped me reach where I am today and it continues to help every single day.

As humans, our lives are built on encounters and relationships. My motto has always been to try to be kind to everybody. Even if it sounds simple, that goes a long way.

What’s one challenge people don’t talk enough about in the sport industry?

In motorsport – and especially in Formula 1 – the photography business can be quite tricky.

A lot of photographers struggle to make it sustainable financially. Many work for small agencies that don’t sell images to major sponsors, brands or big publications, which makes it difficult to build a stable career.

There’s also something close to a monopoly with Getty Images. They have different access and rights compared to normal photographers, and they supply a lot of the teams and sponsors. That can make the market challenging.

But even with those realities, we’re still happy to be here and compete by producing the best work we can.

It’s a tricky market – but it’s also an incredibly exciting one to work in.

What excites you most about the future of sport?

It’s difficult to say exactly what the future holds for Formula 1. We’re currently in what many people see as the new era of the sport following the latest regulation changes.

But I’m excited by the possibility that the sport might return to something more sensory – more focused on raw speed, powerful engines and pure racing.

The more we move into highly complex hybrid systems, the less excited some drivers seem to be about driving the cars. I would love to see an era that brings back some of the old-school principles of racing.

I also hope we see more diversity among drivers in the future.

I would love to see Doriane Pin become the first female driver in Formula 1. That would be huge, and I believe she deserves it.

The pathways are improving and female drivers now have better development systems. Hopefully that means we will see female drivers reaching Formula 1 in the near future.

What advice would you give to your younger self – and to someone starting a career in sport today?

I would probably tell my younger self to believe in himself. It might sound a little cheesy, but it’s genuinely the most important thing.

If you truly believe in yourself, I think anyone can make their dream happen. That was my case. I believed in myself even though not many people would have bet on me.

One of the most satisfying moments recently was meeting someone at the track in Melbourne who told me that another photographer and I were the two people who motivated him to pursue this journey. If we can help people take a step towards their dreams, that’s a beautiful thing.

This year I’m also working on a personal editorial project where I’m interviewing people with interesting journeys across the sport industry.

I’ve already interviewed a designer working in the Audi F1 team, and I hope to do many more.

The goal is to inspire people – especially students or young people who are unsure about what they want to do.

Sharing these stories might give someone the confidence to try pursuing their passion. And if that happens, I’m very happy.

Three words that describe the sport industry?

Adrenaline. Business. Relationships.

One word that describes your role?

Connection.

A book, podcast, or person that influenced you?

One person I really look up to is Mark Sutton. He’s a Formula 1 photographer at Getty Images and previously ran his own photography agency.

There are many talented photographers in the sport, but Mark is not only legendary in his craft – he’s also a genuinely good person.

When I was just a spectator trying to find my way into Formula 1, he was one of the very few professional photographers who actually responded to me and gave me advice. That meant a lot.

It’s also why I try to spend time every day replying to messages from people who are in the same position I once was.

If I can give someone a piece of advice that helps them move one step closer to their dream, then that’s worth the time.

Antoine Lapeyre’s story is a reminder that careers in sport are rarely built overnight.

They’re shaped by persistence, relationships and a willingness to keep showing up – even when the path isn’t obvious.

From photographing grassroots motorsport in rural France to capturing Formula 1 on the world stage, his journey shows how passion combined with belief can open doors that once felt impossible.

And as he continues documenting the sport’s biggest moments, Antoine Lapeyre is also helping inspire the next generation chasing their own place in the paddock.

How to connect with Antoine Lapeyre…

Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and website.

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