Brad Pitt fulfills decades-long dream with high-octane F1 racing film

Hollywood star Brad Pitt is finally realizing a career ambition that has eluded him for decades: starring in a Formula One racing film. 

The 61-year-old actor's upcoming movie "F1," directed by Joseph Kosinski of "Top Gun: Maverick" fame, has proven to be one of the most exhilarating experiences of his storied career.

In the film, Pitt portrays a former F1 driver attempting a comeback to the sport's pinnacle. What sets this project apart is Kosinski's bold decision to embed the production directly within the racing season, placing Pitt in actual F1 cars during live race weekends.

"For me, it was just a no-brainer when [Joseph Kosinski] had this audacious plan to embed us in the racing season, to put us actually in the cars," Pitt revealed in a recent interview. "It was just a dream come true. I've been trying to do a racing film for literally decades," he said.

The authenticity of the production has earned crucial approval from Formula One's notoriously discerning fanbase. 

In an interview with Extra TV, Pitt acknowledged the importance of meeting the sport's high standards: "If we didn't pass their bar, then we were dead, you know? And to get that kind of response means a lot to us, because we have so much respect for these drivers, for this sport, for everyone, the teams, everything they put into it."

The filming process included capturing sequences at the legendary Silverstone Circuit during the British Grand Prix, where Pitt experienced the overwhelming atmosphere of performing before 100,000 spectators. Initially rehearsing at the venue for weeks, the actor described the transition to race weekend as transformative.

"We had been rehearsing there for a few weeks, so it kind of felt like it was home," he explained. "But then when the whole race movement comes in it's such a juggernaut of a machine. It is really awe-inspiring, and then to get on the track with 100,000 fans, I was a little bit nervous. Actually, no, it was a high."

Despite a career spanning blockbuster hits including "Ocean's Eleven," "Troy," and "Fight Club," Pitt described this F1 project as uniquely rejuvenating. The actor expressed confidence that the film successfully balances appeal for both hardcore racing enthusiasts and newcomers to the sport.

"I felt pretty confident in what we have," Pitt stated. "I feel like we successfully thread this needle that's for longtime fans that really understand the sport as well as newcomers."

For an actor accustomed to diverse roles across multiple decades, the F1 film represented something entirely fresh. "Doing this this long and to find something that was almost like starting over, it was so full of passion and it gave me a feeling like I've never had before," Pitt reflected. "It was just sublime. I'm pretty grateful for Joe Kosinski for coming up with this."