Pitt reveals more details about Hamilton-supported F1 movie

Brad Pitt admits he is “a little giddy” to be able to drive a replica Formula 1 car during grand prix weekends as he gives away more about the plot of the film currently in production. A fictional team, called APXGP, was present at Silverstone …

Brad Pitt admits he is “a little giddy” to be able to drive a replica Formula 1 car during grand prix weekends as he gives away more about the plot of the film currently in production.

A fictional team, called APXGP, was present at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix weekend with a full garage set-up, paddock presence and two specially-designed cars running on track. Pitt was driving for some scenes and says the access and opportunities given to the Apple Studios production is making for exciting filming.

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“I’m a little giddy right now, I’ve got to say,” he told Sky Sports after being out on track. “It’s great to be here. Having such a laugh, time of my life.

“It’s all been great. The vibe’s amazing, you know that. Just to be a part of in this way and tell our story. Everyone’s been really cool with us. The teams have opened their doors to us. The FIA, Mohammed (ben Sulayem), have been really helpful. F1, Stefano (Domenicali) – everyone has been really amazing that we can do this. And it’s going to be really good.”

Admitting “only my ego” has been hurt as a result of a few trips through the grass during training for the film, Pitt insists he wasn’t fazed to be driving on track during the race weekend.

“No, I really wasn’t. The guys really prepared me well. There’s a couple of corners I can see the stands… on the straights you had a bit of time to look around. I’m really focused on the lines and what we’re trying to create in these moments.

“I wanna say. For all the armchair experts out there. You’ve got to give us a little breathing room if you see any spin-outs, or something that looks like a stall, it’s by design!”

There was also praise for both Carlin – who have helped adapt the F2 car alongside Mercedes and provided training to the drivers – and Lewis Hamilton for their focus on ensuring the film’s sporting aspects are true to life.

“Yeah we’ve got Trevor Carlin’s team. They’ve been sensational keeping us safe and training us and operating the show like the real thing. It should be as authentic as we can get it.

“And also Lewis, who’s also our producer, who’s really, really intent that we respect the sport, that we really show it for what it is. I have to tell you as a civilian I had no idea what it takes to be a driver; the aggression, the dexterity, they’re amazing and I have so much respect for everyone out there in all the different classes.”

And Pitt was also willing to explain a little more about the plot of the as-yet-untitled film, having been on the grid in character as Sonny Hayes ahead of Sunday’s race.

“So he has a horrible crash, kind of craps out and disappears and is racing in other disciplines. His friend, played by Javier Bardem, is a team owner. They’re a last placed owner. 21, 22 on the grid. They’ve never scored a point. They have a young phenom played by Damson Idris. He brings me in as a kind of Hail Mary and hi-jinx ensure.

“I’ll tell you what’s amazing about it. You’ll see the cameras mounted all over the car. You’ve never seen speed, you’ve never seen the G-forces like this. It’s really amazing.”

F1 movie producer Hamilton nervous, excited and hopeful it will boost the sport

Lewis Hamilton admits he is nervous to see the new Formula 1 film begin filming at the British Grand Prix but believes it can take the sport to new heights. The film’s fictional 11th team – APXGP – has a full garage setup and pit wall at Silverstone …

Lewis Hamilton admits he is nervous to see the new Formula 1 film begin filming at the British Grand Prix but believes it can take the sport to new heights.

The film’s fictional 11th team — APXGP — has a full garage setup and pit wall at Silverstone and will be running real cars on track during the race weekend for the as-yet-untitled production. With Top Gun: Maverick’s Joe Kosinski directing, and Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman producing, Hamilton has also been working as a producer and he says he’s anxious to give the sport authenticity.

“I just saw Jerry walking in and I have’t been to see the garage yet but on the other side, I was here a week or two before Austria watching Brad [Pitt] practice and it’s massively exciting to see it all coming together,” Hamilton said.

“To know that we’re finally starting to film this weekend, there’s nerves naturally because it’s something we’ve been working on for so long and we want everyone to love it and to really feel that we encapsulate what the essence of this sport is all about. So that’s our goal and hopefully we can do you proud.”

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With F1’s owners opening the paddock up for filming during events, Hamilton says the buy-in from the sport has been a key aspect of giving the movie the best chance of being successful.

“I’ve been incredibly grateful to them for that, I don’t know if this would have been possible 10-plus years ago when the old management was in place. They perhaps wouldn’t have seen this as an important step in terms of the sport’s growth, but we’ve already seen the great work and impact of the Netflix show [Drive To Survive]and I think this will take it to new heights beyond that.

“There’s so many people around the world that are so excited about this sport and wanting to know more, and the fact that we will have all of the original characters that are already on the grid, and Brad (Pitt), is pretty cool.”

The topic of Pitt’s age has been a talking point, with the 59-year-old playing driver Sonny Hayes, but Hamilton says it will still make for a believable storyline.

“Well firstly, Brad looks like he’s aging backwards — he looks great for his age. Of course that was a big topic at the beginning when we were discussing the first story. But he’s super fit, he’s been training, and at the end of the day it’s a movie so there will be a Hollywood element to it that will make it believable. Brad’s such an iconic actor — he’s always done such an incredible job, so I can’t tell you how excited I am to have Brad Pitt in a Formula 1 movie, it’s incredible. So I think he’s going to do a great job.

“We did do a day together at a track in LA, and for someone who hasn’t raced he’s definitely got a keen eye. He loves watching MotoGP so he’s always been a racing enthusiast. He already had a knack for the lines and he was fully on it, which was good to see.”

Fictional APXGP team at British GP for F1 movie footage

There’s a fictional 11th team in the Formula 1 paddock as “APXGP” has arrived at the British Grand Prix as part of filming for an upcoming movie. The as-yet-untitled Apple Studios film is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman and …

There’s a fictional 11th team in the Formula 1 paddock as “APXGP” has arrived at the British Grand Prix as part of filming for an upcoming movie.

The as-yet-untitled Apple Studios film is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman and directed by Joe Kosinski — who worked with Bruckheimer on Top Gun: Maverick — with Lewis Hamilton serving as a producer to ensure authenticity. Brad Pitt stars in the film alongside Damson Idris, and filming will take place at Silverstone this weekend.

The fictional team has a full garage setup in the middle of the pit lane between Ferrari and Mercedes, as well as a pit wall and hospitality unit in the paddock. Above the garages are the names of drivers Sonny Hayes (played by Pitt) and Joshua Pearce (Idris) in the same form as all of the other teams in the pit lane.

Apple Studios has released on-track imagery of the team’s car, with the black-and-gold livery carrying a number of real-life sponsors. While it looks like a current F1 car, it is a modified F2 chassis adapted with help from both Mercedes and Carlin, and will be driven by professional drivers as well as Pitt and Idris, who have been undergoing extensive training.

Fans at Silverstone will get to see the car on track during specific filming slots, as Kosinski attempts to follow the Top Gun: Maverick approach of producing as much true action footage as possible.