By: Nate Lu

Hollywood has made a large variety of racing movies over the past few years. For example, there has been “Grand Prix,” “Le Mans,” “Days of Thunder” and “Ford v Ferrari.”

Now, there is a new movie from Apple Studios, Plan B Entertainment and Jerry Bruckheimer Films set in the intense world of Formula 1. This film is about a fictional team named APXGP and the two drivers, Joshua Pearce and Sonny Hayes, played by Damson Idris and Brad Pitt.

Brad plays “a guy who raced in the ‘90s, has a horrible crash, kind of craps out, disappears and then races in other disciplines,” as he stated in an interview with Sky Sports F1.

Joseph Kosinski, the movie’s Head Director, said that he took inspiration from “Grand Prix” and “Le Mans.” He said, “They were captured at real races with real drivers, and that’s certainly been an inspiration for me in conceiving this project that’s been almost two years in the making.” He also said that he liked doing “ambitious projects” and that he thinks that this movie is one of the most ambitious ones he has made yet. He states again, “I like doing ambitious projects, and this one is probably the most ambitious I’ve ever taken on. Our aim is to make one of the most authentic racing films ever.”

In the movie, there will be a plentiful amount of cameras positioned around the racetrack capturing racing footage around several Grands Prix. By using these techniques, the race cars will look how they look when they are in an actual race. These camera techniques were also found in the filming of “Top Gun: Maverick.” New York Times states, “Cameras positioned around the track will capture racing footage at several Grands Prix during the season. And using techniques developed in the filming of “Top Gun: Maverick,” the APXGP cars will look like they are in a race.”

Working alongside Kosinski, Lewis Hamilton, a Mercedes driver that has won the Formula Championship seven times, is an executive producer helping Kosinski to make the movie as authentic as possible.

Lewis says that he has been working with Joseph trying to make each shot look as fast as it is in the actual Grand Prix. This technology was well used in “Top Gun: Maverick” during the dogfights, an aerial battle between fighter aircraft conducted at close range, and he thinks that bringing that sort of technology into the F1 world is going to be amazing. Basically, we learned that by applying the same technology used in a fast-intense-action-packed movie to an equally fast and intense sport can make the movie look more authentic.

Brad Pitt is also a great driver for someone who hasn’t raced before in his life. Hamilton says, “We did a day together at a track in L.A., and for someone who hadn’t raced, he’s definitely got a keen eye. 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.”

During a visit at Silverstone in the U.K., 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 talk about issues that occurred in the previous event and if there was anything of possible concern for that race weekend.

George Russell, Lewis Hamilton’s teammate in Mercedes, stated that it was “quite surreal” to be alongside Brad Pitt. He says, “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. He was joking around, having a good time and just being one of the boys.”

Stefano Domenicali, the president and Chief Executive of Formula 1 racing, stated that the film was a great opportunity for the sport and that it was “too good to turn down.” He also pointed out that it would “be another fantastic way for fans to see what an amazing sport we have and to hopefully open it up to an even wider audience than we have now.” Stefano also adds that in order to show a wide audience what an amazing sport F1 racing is, the movie has to be 100% authentic. “But we have been clear, and the Apple team fully agrees: It needs to be authentic in order to show the real Formula 1. So the fact the scenes for the movie are being filmed during Grand Prix weekends adds drama and authenticity,” he finally states.”