Why is Brad Pitt filming at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix?
Joining Formula 1 drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris this weekend is an unlikely newcomer to the circuit: Brad Pitt.
The Hollywood star is at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix, scheduled for Sunday 9th July.
Pitt, 59, is shooting his new F1 movie for Apple TV+, reportedly titled apexdirected by Top Gun: Maverick Chef Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and Hamilton himself.
A garage for Pitt’s fictional F1 team was discovered before the race. Above the garage is a picture of Pitt wearing a racing suit next to his character’s name, Sonny Hayes.
Pitt even has a fictional teammate, snowfall Star Damson Idris, 31, who appears to be called Joshua Pearce in the project.
Details about the film have so far remained rare; However, Kosinski and Bruckheimer revealed some information at a panel discussion during the Miami Grand Prix weekend in May.
The pair said they are “assembling an 11th team to film at track and events from Silverstone by the end of the year”.
Event host Will Buxton said the film’s team created “the smallest moving 6K camera ever designed to bring the viewer into the cockpit” where the film’s stars will drive the race cars.
“That’s right. Brad Pitt drives an F1 car at Silverstone,” said Buxton.
diversity later confirmed that Pitt would not race against other drivers at this track and that he would likely drive a modified junior F2 car, which is significantly less powerful than an F1 car.
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During an investor question-and-answer session in April (via sports illustrated) F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the film will be “quite pushy in terms of production”. It’s something we have to control in a way, but it will be another way to show that Formula 1 never stops.”
Brad Pitt at the 2022 United States Grand Prix
(Getty Images for Williams Racing)
According to the film’s official logline, Pitt “plays a driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie driver against the titans of the sport.”
Hamilton spoke briefly about the project following its announcement last year. The 38-year-old said he “had an amazing time with Brad which is pretty epic”.
Hamilton, the most successful driver in Formula 1 history, announced that he would not be taking part in the filming.
“Actually, it’s my responsibility and something I take on to make sure the cast and crew are diverse behind the scenes,” he said.
“It’s really about showing people how great this sport really is, who may not have seen it, but also making sure we keep the true heritage and racing spirit in the film.”
apex has no release date yet.