By: Andrew Yao
The latest, as-yet-untitled picture from Apple Studios, Plan B Entertainment and Jerry Bruckheimer Films, is set in the world of Formula 1. It is about the fictional team APXGP and its two drivers, Sonny Hayes and Joshua Pearce, played by Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. Pitt said that he plays “a guy who raced in the 1990s […] who has a horrible crash, craps out and disappears, then he’s racing in other disciplines. His friend, played by Javier Bardem, he’s a team owner, contacts him. They’re a last place team, they’re 21-22 on the grid, they’ve never scored a point.”
Pitt plays “a guy who raced in the ’90s, has a horrible crash, kind of craps out, disappears and then races in other disciplines,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports F1.
Lewis Hamilton, a British race car driver, known for his record for seven World Drivers’ Championship titles, is serenely impressed with Pitt’s driving skills. The actor, 59, was trained for the role by driving karts and open-wheel cars before progressing to Formula 2.
“We did do a day together at a track in L.A., and for someone who hadn’t raced, he’s definitely got a keen eye,” Hamilton said. “He loves watching MotoGP” — Grand Prix motorcycle racing — “so he’s always been a racing enthusiast, and you could see he has a knack for the racing lines. He was definitely fully on it, which was good to see.”
At Silverstone, Pitt took part in the drivers’ briefing — a pre-race meeting with the race director of the F.I.A., the sport’s governing body — to discuss issues from the race session and anything of possible concern for that weekend. George Russell, Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes, said it was “quite surreal” to have Pitt involved in the production of the upcoming movie.
“It’s only when you get to be with those individuals — whether it’s Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt or Roger Federer, whoever it is you’ve been fortunate enough to meet — that you recognize they’re just normal human beings,” Russell said. “He was joking around, having a good time and just being one of the boys.”
Since Liberty Media Corporation took control of Formula 1 in 2017, the global presence of the sport has transformed. Referring to the “Drive to Survive” documentary series on Formula 1, Hamilton said, “We’ve already seen the great work and impact of the Netflix show, and I think this movie will take it to new heights beyond that (Netflix Show and other F1 movies).”