As Formula 1 arrives at Suzuka, something else awakens in the city.
F-Labs Japan is now live.
Part One of the Kanata Series begins not on the track — but in Tokyo, where Merlins Sports Entertainment brings racing, innovation, and storytelling beyond the circuit.
The Moment Motorsport Entered Mainstream Storytelling
Before Drive to Survive.
Before the global explosion of Formula 1 fandom.
There was Hollywood.
An episode of the iconic CSI: Miami—produced by Jerry Bruckheimer—turned the streets of Miami into a 200 mph cinematic racetrack, blending real Champ Car racing with prime-time television.
At the center of it all:
The American Spirit Team Johansson — powered by heritage, speed, and Merlins Energy Source.
$3M+ in Exposure: The Power of Storytelling Meets Speed
The numbers tell the story:
12.0 rating / 19 share (nearly 13 million households)
Over $1M+ in sponsor exposure for brands like Ford Motor Company and Bridgestone
Featured race teams including Team Johansson, running Cosworth-powered machines
This wasn’t just product placement.
This was immersive storytelling at scale—years before the term existed.
Merlins was there.
From CSI Miami to Apple’s F1 Film
What started on CSI didn’t end there.
Jerry Bruckheimer would go on to executive produce the new Formula 1 feature film starring Brad Pitt, distributed by Apple—bringing racing storytelling full circle into the streaming era.
Merlins’ origin story sits right at that intersection:
Hollywood
Motorsport
Global media distribution.
WATCH CSI Video Here by CSI’s
Watch the original scene from CSI: Miami “High Octane,” produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, where Champ car racing meets Hollywood storytelling on the streets of Miami.
Merlins Sports Entertainment is proud to welcome Gabriele Oricchio—an award-winning producer and global creative force—to the Merlins Sports Entertainment as a member of Knights of the Round Table.
Based in Rome, Gabriele brings decades of experience across international film, television, and digital storytelling. His career spans collaborations with world-renowned directors and actors, and leadership roles overseeing major film productions across Europe and North America.
From launching innovative digital storytelling platforms to producing films alongside talents such as Wim Wenders, Andy García, and Terry Gilliam, his work reflects a deep commitment to cinematic excellence and global storytelling.
As Head of the Film Division at Fenix S.p.A., Gabriele supervised a €30 million slate of films, including Monica, which competed for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and Stranizza d’Amuri, winner of two Nastri d’Argento awards.
At Merlins, his arrival marks a key step forward as the company expands its vision across:
🎬 Merlins Sports Films — original global storytelling
