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Paddock perspective on the making of Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ movie

Paddock perspective on the making of Brad Pitt's 'F1' movie

Formula One is going Hollywood in 2025 courtesy of Brad Pitt, Jerry Bruckheimer, “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski, and with assistance from none other than Lewis Hamilton. The movie, titled simply “F1” and due for release on June 25 next year, has been given extraordinary access to the sport throughout the past year, filming on location in the paddock, pit lane and even on the grid at Silverstone two years running.

According to the championship itself, “the new feature film is set in the exhilarating and cinematic world of Formula One and will immerse audiences in the spectacle of the most popular annual sports series, celebrating the skill and heroism of the drivers while showcasing the incredible challenge of competition in Formula One.”

Much has been made of how big Netflix’s hit series “Drive to Survive” has been for the sport, but there are many who feel “F1” could be even bigger. It’s hard to argue; Pitt remains one of the most famous movie stars in history and Apple and Warner Brothers have gone to great lengths to make sure this looks and feels like a Formula One movie. Seeing people decked out in black APXGP — the fictional team that employs Pitt’s character — hats has become common more recently; at points ahead of Silverstone’s British Grand Prix last month, Pitt could be found striding around the paddock decked out in race overalls like any other driver would be.

Authenticity has been a key buzzword, but how have the filmmakers gone about trying to achieve that, exactly?

How real will this movie actually look?

Very, is the simple answer. APXGP had its own garage at Silverstone last year, wedged between Mercedes and Ferrari. The motorhome that appeared at the British race a year later only adds to the authenticity; it has been used both to film scenes and acted as a hub for the crew between filming.

While Pitt’s involvement has gained the most attention, there are other big names attached to the project. Javier Bardem, who plays APXGP’s team boss, was also on the grid at Silverstone, filming scenes that can be seen in the trailer. Bardem also filmed one brief interaction with Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

‘Safe? Who said anything about safe?’

The 97-second trailer played out about half an hour…

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