The Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS) presented F1 (Apple Original Films) with the AMPS Excellence in Sound for a Feature Film Award during a gala ceremony on Saturday evening (2/21) at Warner Bros. De Lane Lea in London. Also honored was Simon Hayes with an AMPS Fellowship.
The F1 sound team–consisting of supervising sound editors Al Nelson and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, re-recording mixers Gary A. Rizzo, CAS and Juan Peralta, production sound mixer Gareth John AMPS, and 1st assistant sound/boom operator Dash Mason-Malik AMPS–received the award, as voted by members of AMPS, the leading U.K. craft guild representing sound professionals in film and television. They were presented with the polished bronze trophies by AMPS chair George Foulgham, in the company of AMPS members and fellow 2026 Film Award nominees from Frankenstein, Sinners and Warfare. The sound team members from the remaining nominated film Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning were unable to attend.
Upon accepting the award, Yates Whittle, on behalf of the F1 sound team, commented, “Receiving this award from AMPS is a huge honor for us. Creating the sound track 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!”
Additionally, sound mixer Hayes earned AMPS’ 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 honor to receive the AMPS Fellowship Award. AMPS represents the very best of our craft, and to be recognized 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 endeavor, 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.”
Now in its 13th year, the AMPS Feature Film Sound Award is a respected, peer-voted honor, recognizing excellence across the full scope of film sound. Over the past 12 years, AMPS winners have gone on to secure 11 BAFTAs and eight Academy Awards.
AMPS’ recognition of F1 is mirrored across the major international sound awards, underlining a rare consensus among sound professionals worldwide. The film is one of only two titles this year, alongside Sinners, to receive Best Sound nominations from every major sound and awards body.
AMPS chair George Foulgham said, “Tonight was a celebration of everything that defines our craft: collaboration, creativity and technical excellence. It was a privilege to present the F1 sound team with the AMPS Award for Excellence in Film Sound–a film with meticulous production sound and finely engineered design, driven by Hans Zimmer’s score, creating an unforgettable cinematic experience. Also to honor Simon Hayes with an AMPS Fellowship; Simon’s contribution to production sound continues to set a benchmark for excellence, and recognizing his career in front of so many peers made the evening especially meaningful.”
AMPS vice chair Kate Davis added, “The AMPS Awards are about recognizing not just outstanding work, but the people behind it. Seeing the incredible F1 sound team celebrated by their peers was inspiring, and awarding a Fellowship to Simon Hayes was a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can have on our industry. It was a heartwarming night filled with pride, respect, and a genuine sense of community.”
The AMPS Award for Excellence in Sound for a Feature Film honors outstanding contributions and collaborative efforts of the production sound mixer, supervising dialogue/ADR editor, supervising sound editor or sound designer, and re-recording mixer; in addition, AMPS recognizes a key 1st assistant sound.
The awards are supported by Dolby Laboratories, Pinewood Group, Sennheiser, Deity Microphones, Bubblebee Industries and Raycom.
