ده سال پیش، وقتی برای اولین بار در یک رویداد F1 شرکت کردم، فقط یک تماشاگر معمولی بودم. مثل بسیاری از طرفداران جدید فرمول یک، بعد از تماشای سریال فرمول یک: مسابقه برای بقا از نتفلیکس، فوراً عاشق این ورزش شدم. حالا، با درک عمیق‌تری که از رانندگان کلاس جهانی و تیم‌های فوق‌العاده‌شان پیدا کرده‌ام، کاملاً درگیر F1 شده‌ام.

Last weekend, I was in Miami for the 2025 Grand Prix on behalf of Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% to support their iconic partner, Scuderia Ferrari HP. The Vampire Diaries star is also friends with Lewis Hamilton, one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, who races for Ferrari.

For me, the starting point of my F1 interest was a collection of moments. I had been to the Monaco Grand Prix once in 2013. I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t as invested as I am now. Then, I was doing a movie in Greece called Bricklayer with Aaron Eckhart. On action movies, there’s usually a lot of downtime.

A friend of ours invited us back to the Monaco race. By that time, the Formula 1: Drive to Survive series had come out since the last time I had watched a race. I thought to myself that I should probably learn a little bit about F1 so I’m not completely in the dark. I think there were four or five seasons out by then. I sat in my trailer and turned it on, thinking I’d only watch for 30 minutes. Next thing I knew, the second season was over, and they [the filming crew] still hadn’t called me to set. They were running behind.

I just became obsessed with all the little details. Learning about the cars, the engineers, and the people involved – it truly is a massive village of hundreds of people and hundreds of millions of dollars. When I learned more about the individuals’ lives, the passion, the heartbreak, and everything that goes into getting to Formula 1, it became so much more interesting to me. My respect for the sport really grew as I got into the details and my knowledge increased.

What’s the vibe of an F1 race day?

The vibe of race day? It’s electric. It truly is an electric feeling. As you can imagine, the speed is incredible, and the excitement is indescribable. Everyone who is there is a die-hard fan. You don’t really go to the races if you’re not interested. You feel everyone’s energy and excitement alongside the actual speed of the cars – they’re really loud. You can hear and smell the tires burning. It’s really, really exciting.

The stakes are also so high. When you’re invested in the sport and you know the individuals involved, you really feel the tension. Seeing what’s going to happen is both nerve-wracking and incredibly thrilling.

Being in Miami with Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% to support Ferrari felt very natural. When they called, I was really excited because I’m a fan of F1, a fan of Peroni, and a fan of Ferrari. Lewis [Hamilton] is a dear friend. To support all three in a beautiful location is really exciting.

Miami is notoriously and wonderfully hot. Having a Peroni 0.0% in my hand to keep me cool throughout the weekend will be a very welcome perk and accessory to all my F1 outfits this weekend.

The growth of the non-alcoholic drinks market

The non-alcoholic drinks market has exploded in recent memory. I’m in my 30s, so even 10 years ago, these options weren’t nearly as popular. Now, every restaurant or bar has a whole menu dedicated to it. Why do you think it’s become so much more socially acceptable these days?

I love that the option exists. Sometimes, you’re in the mood for a big night out. And sometimes, you’re not. As you said, it’s become more socially acceptable to have that option. I’m in my 30s as well. The hangovers get a lot worse as you get older. [Laughs]

For example, on Sunday, I’m getting up early and going to the race for a meet and greet with Ferrari and a garage tour. I have to wake up earlier and start my makeup. I can’t really go out the night before and have a late night. To be able to have something [Peroni 0.0%] that tastes good, looks good, and feels good…

Whatever your reason is for not drinking alcohol, it’s really nobody’s business. Sometimes just having it [Peroni 0.0%] in your hand also wards off unwanted questions from people like, “What are you drinking?” It looks like you’re still indulging, which you are because you have a delicious Peroni in your hand, and you’re not being judged.

An insight into Lewis Hamilton from Nina Dobrev

You mentioned Lewis Hamilton, who will be racing this weekend. One of the all-time greats. As someone who has spent time with him, what have you seen behind the scenes that makes him a champion?

He’s genuinely the most competitive person next to my boyfriend [Shaun White], who is also the most competitive other person I’ve ever met. [Laughs] The two of them together – that’s where you can really see the champions within them. They’re always jokingly competing with each other. When we were in Antarctica, they both jumped into the ocean and competed to see who could swim the longest in a freezing cold environment.

You have to have that drive, that mental focus, that passion, and that dedication, and he [Lewis] definitely has it. It’s not just in one area of his life. He’s a serious Virgo, and I’m also a serious Virgo. We’re actually a few days apart. That’s a very Virgo trait that Lewis has. We’re stubborn, we’re bossy, and we don’t take no for an answer. We will pursue anything until we basically get it. He definitely has all of those great qualities.

Lewis Hamilton’s foray into filmmaking

Lewis is entering your world. I know he has a busy summer ahead producing an F1 movie. It sounds amazing.

Yes, I’m so excited. I can’t wait to see the movie. I’m a big Brad Pitt fan and a fan of the sport. You put those two together, and I’ll be the first in line.

Nina Dobrev’s new movie with Russell Crowe

You recently wrapped filming a movie in Australia with Russell Crowe called The Beast. I saw some behind-the-scenes videos of you in the makeup chair. It looks like a very exciting action thriller. Can you tell us a little bit about what we should expect?

I haven’t seen it yet, but the script is really fun. We had a really great time filming in Australia. Russell Crowe is obviously a legend. I’m really excited for everyone to see it. It’s definitely an action-packed, fun movie that will hopefully come out next year. We’ll see.

Criteria for choosing roles in films

You’ve been in a hugely popular TV show. You’ve done successful movies. At this stage in your career, when you read a script, what are you looking for in a role? How has that approach changed from when you first started?

The approach has mostly stayed the same. I think at the beginning of my career, I was auditioning for everything and taking any job that came my way because I just wanted to work and keep working.

Now, I think I’m a little bit more thoughtful about the character, the directors, where we’re filming, and the length of time. As you get older, a lot of things come into play, and the motivations have shifted. I want to be creative. I don’t need to just work to work. I want to work when I’m passionate about something.