During the filming of “F1: The Movie,” Brad Pitt was “only” allowed to drive modified Formula 2 cars, but now he has tested a real McLaren
On Thursday, at the age of 61, Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt’s childhood dream came true. Just three days after the glamorous premiere of his new film “F1 – The Movie” on Monday in New York, Pitt was allowed to test a relatively recent Formula 1 car from the English McLaren team at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
The test car was a 2023 MCL60, which Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri drove to fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren junior Alex Dunne had already tested the car as part of his training program, and Norris then drove the car for Pitt on Wednesday, as reported by RacingNews365.
The test was announced on Instagram by the fictional team APX GP, for which Pitt aka Sonny Hayes races in “F1 – The Movie.” APX now has its own Instagram account, which is being used to promote the film. “Sonny Hayes is set to test with McLaren at the Circuit of The Americas,” read a post there.
Pitt and his co-star Damson Idris had already enjoyed regular opportunities to drive fast Formula cars during the filming of “F1 – The Movie.” However, their APX cars were converted Formula 2 cars whose bodywork had been modified to look like real Formula 1 cars.
The film “F1 – The Movie” was presented on Monday in New York at a grand premiere attended by (almost) all current Formula 1 drivers. The film will be released in Germany on June 26. It will then be available on the streaming service Apple TV+ for viewers who prefer to stay at home.
Brad Pitt is one of Hollywood’s most famous actors. The Oscar winner made his breakthrough in the 1990s with films such as “Legends of the Fall,” “Seven,” and “Fight Club.” In recent years, he has been successful not only as an actor but also as a producer, including the award-winning film “12 Years a Slave.” Pitt is considered a motorsport enthusiast and has been spotted several times at Formula 1 races.
Pitt was not only the lead actor in “F1: The Movie,” but also its co-producer. Together with Lewis Hamilton’s production company Hammerhead and Apple Studios, he worked intensively on the film to achieve the most authentic portrayal of the Formula 1 circus possible. Filming took place during real race weekends, including at Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, and Las Vegas. Pitt underwent extensive training for the role and drove himself in many scenes.
