F1 movie: Brad Pitt's impressive driving skills highlighted by Lewis Hamilton
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
Renowned for his unparalleled speed on the track, Brad Pitt is set to deliver an authentic racing performance in Hollywood's upcoming Formula 1 film, premiering in June. Seven-time F1 World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, assures fans that this will be the most realistic racing movie to ever hit the silver screen.
"Brad Pitt, speed, thrills, an epic underdog story, drama, humour, and a little bit of romance," said the Ferrari driver. With such a combination, the Apple Original Films production promises to captivate audiences worldwide.
A two-minute trailer released last Thursday gave viewers a preview of the high-octane action, featuring Hamilton as a co-producer. The movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski of "Top Gun: Maverick" acclaim, stars Javier Bardem as the team owner destined for failure, alongside British actor Damson Idris as hotshot Joshua Pearce, and Pitt as the seasoned racer Sonny Hayes.
What sets this film apart is its commitment to realism. Shot during Grand Prix weekends, both Pitt and Idris drove specially modified F2 cars outfitted with state-of-the-art cameras by Mercedes. The fictitious APX team had their own garage and pit wall, integrating seamlessly into the real races.
Hamilton, whose season opens in Australia this weekend, expressed admiration for Pitt's dedication. "Watching Brad drive around at speeds over 180 miles an hour was really impressive to see because it's not something you can just learn overnight," he noted during the launch event. "The dedication and the focus that Brad put into this process has been amazing to witness."
Kosinski credited Hamilton with shaping the narrative, emphasizing the importance of authentic driving skills for the film's success. "If Brad can't drive, this whole film wasn't going to work," Kosinski explained. "What Lewis was very happy to discover was that Brad had a lot of natural ability right from the start."
Pitt's natural talent, possibly influenced by his experience with motorcycles, instilled confidence in the team. Kosinski described the filming process as "like a live stage play, shooting at 180 miles an hour, literally. It was an adrenaline rush every weekend."
Undoubtedly, months of training contributed to the film's authenticity. "When you see Brad driving, that's not acting," Kosinski emphasized. "He's really concentrating on keeping that car on the track and out of the wall during all those scenes, so that's something that you just can't fake."
Audiences can look forward to witnessing this extraordinary blend of Hollywood glamour and thrilling motorsport action when the film is released internationally by Warner Bros. Pictures on June 25.
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