Brad Pitt races in a Formula 1 car: F1 film celebrates its premiere!

Brad Pitt races in a Formula 1 car: F1 film celebrates its premiere!

Film star Brad Pitt recently got behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car to complete filming for his new film “F1”. The film, which opens in cinemas next week, brings the fascination of motorsport to the big screen. What's special is that Pitt drove a 2023 McLaren MCL60 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on Thursday, which is a dream for many Formula 1 fans.

For the production of the film, Pitt had Formula 2 cars modified by Mercedes at his disposal. His role in the film plays a fictional pilot named Sonny Hayes. He not only receives praise for his acting performance, but also from the racing professional of the same name Lewis Hamilton, who acts as co-producer of the film and de facto ensures the authentic portrayal of racing. Hamilton reported that Pitt reached speeds of over 180 miles (around 290 km/h) when testing the F2 cars.

The details about the film

The plot of the film “F1,” directed by Joseph Kosinski, follows Sonny Hayes, a former racing driver who returns to mentor young talent Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris. Other main cast members include Kerry Condon as Kate McKenna, Tobias Menzies as Peter Banning and Javier Bardem as Ruben Cervantes. The film combines exciting racing scenes with real Grand Prix footage and trained the actors in Formula 2 and Formula 3 racing cars.

Filming took place at various famous race tracks, including Silverstone, Hungaroring and Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The film, made with an estimated budget of $200 million to $300 million, will be available in theaters worldwide beginning June 25, 2025, with a U.S. premiere scheduled for June 27, 2025. Viewers can look forward to musical accompaniment by Hans Zimmer and a soundtrack with artists such as Doja Cat and Tate McRae.

Criticism and expectations

The first official trailer was released in July 2023 and shows spectacular driving footage as well as appearances from Formula 1 personalities such as Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. Critics are optimistic as the film has already received positive reviews, with an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 70/100. It's expected that "F1" could gross $35 million to $40 million in its opening weekend in North America.

Overall, “F1” is a promising picture with Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes returning to the world of motorsports and the support of Hamilton. The combination of captivating plot and real motorsport elements makes this film a highlight of this year's cinema summer. Further information about the film can be found at Laola1, Wikipedia and Motorsport magazine.