Brad Pitt Spent ‘Months’ in Racecar Driver Training for His Upcoming F1 Movie

Brad Pitt has put in a lot of work to get ready for his role as a Formula 1 driver. 

Jerry Bruckheimer, who serves as a producer on the highly anticipated racing film, recently opened up about Pitt’s skills behind the wheel and how the actor prepared for the still-untitled movie.  

“He trained for four or five months. He’s an amazing driver,” Bruckheimer told People magazine while attending the Los Angeles premiere of Young Woman and the Sea. “In fact, some of the F1 drivers said he’s a natural athlete. He really is. He’s amazing in that car.” 

Pitt is set to star in the forthcoming Joseph Kosinski-directed project as veteran F1 driver Sonny Hayes. It was previously reported that seven-time world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton would act as a consultant for the film and help the 60-year-old actor train for the high-speed sport. Speaking of which, if you’re curious about how fast Pitt has been whipping around the course, well, Bruckheimer couldn’t exactly say. “I can’t tell you. The insurance company will kill me,” he told People. 

The movie itself was acquired by Apple Studios and began filming in July at last year’s British Grand Prix. Kosinski and Bruckheimer, who worked together on Top Gun: Maverick, assembled an 11th team to compete at the event. During the competition, Pitt took a spin around the Silverstone racetrack while spectators looked on. “I’m a little giddy right now, I’ve got to say,” Pitt said, speaking to Sky Sports. “I don’t know if you could call mine a hot lap, I’d call it kind of a warm lap. I’ve taken a few tours, unintentionally, through the grass.” 

While the project has mostly been kept under wraps, we do know that Pitt is slated to appear alongside Damon Idris and Javier Bardem. A few key details have also emerged about the plot. “I would be a guy who raced in the 90s,” Pitt explained to Sky Sports. “He has a horrible crash and kind of craps out and disappears and then is racing in other disciplines.”

“Then his friend, played by Javier Bardem, is the team owner. They’re the last place team, they’re 21, 22 on the grid, they’ve never scored a point and they have a young phenom played by Damson Idris and he brings me in as kind of a Hail Mary and hijinks ensue,” Pitt continued.

According to Collider, the long-awaited sports drama has allegedly set a premiere date. The website reported on Thursday that the movie will hit IMAX screens on June 27, 2025, which, if it happens, would be on par with the film’s original release timeframe.