Brad Pitt's Race Car Dreams and Real-Life Challenges While Filming The New F1 Movie

Brad Pitt, one of Hollywood's biggest stars, has always lived under a spotlight. His every move, especially in his personal life, seems to make headlines. He recently told GQ that his personal life is "always in the news." He said it has been like that for 30 years in some form or another. This constant attention was an "annoyance" he had to deal with while filming his new F1 racing movie.

Pitt worked on the F1 film with co-star Damson Idris and producer Lewis Hamilton. The movie took longer than planned to make. Production stopped for a whole year because of the Hollywood strikes. As filming ended in Abu Dhabi, Pitt was also finishing his divorce from Angelina Jolie. He described his personal life as a "nagging time suck." He also said it felt like a "waste of time" if he let it be that way. It seems like the film set was a kind of escape for him. He explained that his life felt "warm and secure" with his friends and family, despite the public attention. He compared it to a "fly buzzing around a little bit."

When asked if his divorce finally being over brought him relief, Pitt said no. He called it "not that major of a thing" and "just something coming to fruition. Legally." However, Angelina Jolie's lawyer described it differently. Her lawyer said Jolie was "exhausted" but "relieved this one part is over." Jolie's legal team has also claimed Pitt's physical abuse "started well before" a big incident in 2016. This was when he allegedly choked one of his children and hit another. Jolie filed for divorce a few days after that alleged event. The legal battles between them lasted eight years.

Brad Pitt's Commitment To Authentic Racing In His Upcoming F1 Feature Film

How The Film Aims To Be The Most Real Racing Movie Ever Made For Audiences

Despite the personal challenges, Pitt seems to have found new energy for acting. He had sparked talk about retirement in 2022 when he said he was on the "last leg" of his acting career. He later clarified that he still had many years left. The F1 film showed him that retirement is not happening anytime soon. "Man, I’ve been doing this for a while and was wondering: Do I have more stories to tell? Do I have anything to add to this?" Pitt told GQ. This film "just reinvigorated the whole thing again for me."

The goal of the F1 Movie, right from the start, was to create "the most authentic, realistic, and grounded racing movie ever made." Director Joseph Kosinski and his team developed smaller cameras that could be put inside the race car cockpits. This puts the audience right in the driver’s seat. This meant Pitt and Idris truly had to drive the cars. Everyone on set, from the cast to the crew, talked about these driving sessions. Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 world champion and producer on the film, called Pitt "a bit of a racer at heart." Pitt grew up riding dirt bikes and later raced bikes for fun. This shows his natural connection to the sport.

Pitt and Tom Cruise were once attached to a version of the Ford v Ferrari story. Their director back then also wanted them to drive for real. When Kosinski came to Pitt with the F1 movie idea, Pitt's first question was if they could really drive. They would. But the insurance company needed a lot of convincing to let them drive at top speeds. Pitt explained that F1 cars work best when going fast. He said setting a speed limit would be more dangerous. He became quite passionate about this, even ignoring warnings from his stunt driver. In the end, the insurance company trusted them, and everything worked out.

Behind The Scenes Challenges Of Filming A High-Stakes Racing Movie

From Special Cameras To Real F1 Tracks And The Impact Of Hollywood Strikes

The crew used special IMAX-certified cameras mounted on the race cars. These were even smaller versions of the cameras used in Top Gun: Maverick. This allowed for amazing shots from the cockpit. Pitt had to act while driving at incredible speeds. Kim Bodnia, who plays the team principal in the movie, was initially scared watching Pitt drive. "The fastness! The focus required to drive, the focus required to act, and he’s doing both!" Bodnia said. "When I first saw him in that car, I was so scared. We’re not making this movie!" But they did make it, and the results are expected to be spectacular.

The film aimed to fully become "the 11th team" in the F1 sport. They packed up their special garage and cars. They moved from one race on the calendar to the next, just like real F1 teams. They filmed with other crews and drivers naturally in the background. Pitt and Idris even walked out onto the track with real F1 drivers at the 2023 British Grand Prix. They stood for the national anthem. Pitt even drove in front of 80,000 people. This was an amazing feat. However, just five days later, the SAG-AFTRA strike began. This stopped production right as it was set to really take off. Pitt was "gutted" by this. He did not know what to do with himself. But he later smiled, saying the strike was "probably the best thing that happened for the movie" and for him. He got to drive for another year because of it.

Lewis Hamilton played a big role in making the film real. He reviewed every racing scene. He pointed out if a move was not realistic at a certain part of the track. He also helped with details like making sure the sound of the car's gears matched the visual. Hamilton was also involved in character work and casting. He pushed for diversity to make sure the film showed the real world. For example, he wanted a female race engineer to be a main part of the story. This is something not often seen in real F1. Hamilton described reviewing the script as challenging because of his dyslexia. But he gives 100 percent to anything he does.

Brad Pitt's Unique Style and Future Film Endeavors

From Thigh-High Boots To New Roles, The Star Continues To Make Waves

On a lighter note, Brad Pitt has also been making fashion statements. He recently modeled luxury thigh-high leather boots for GQ's Blockbuster Summer Issue. He wore them with a black leather jumpsuit and a ribbed beanie. These slouchy boots, which cost $4,500, have also been worn by other Hollywood stars like Pedro Pascal and Alexander Skarsgård. Pitt even posed with the boots partially in water for one photo. This shows he is not afraid to take risks with his style.

In the film, Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, joins the APXGP team when they are in last place. His car is a "shit box." Since they cannot win with speed, Pitt’s character uses clever strategic tricks. These tricks are so smart that they could only come from someone who has raced for many years. Hamilton said he got to be a "strategist" within the racing scenes for the film. This shows how deeply he was involved.

Pitt's acting career will continue with the F1 movie this summer. He also has other projects coming up. These include "Heart of the Beast," a Navy SEAL drama that brings him back with his Fury director David Ayer. There is also a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel. Pitt will play Cliff Booth again for director David Fincher and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino. It seems Pitt is full of energy and ready for more roles.

After filming, Pitt reflected on the "isolation" and "loneliness" that can come with being a major star or a top athlete. He said it can lead to something greater and help you find purpose. He felt a peace in the car during filming. Time slowed down for him, similar to what Hamilton described about finding his "groove" as a driver. This experience "just reinvigorated the whole thing again for me." He felt a "bliss" in the car and misses it. Pitt said, "I am really happy" when talking about feeling the adrenaline of corners like Eau Rouge at Spa. It sounds like the F1 movie was more than just a job for him. It was a deeply personal journey.