The start of filming of a film on the world of Formula 1 starring American actor Brad Pitt will create the event this weekend on the Silverstone circuit on the sidelines of the GP of Great Britain, 10th round of the F1 season. For the occasion, a fictitious garage of the Apex team, which is at the center of the plot of the film produced by Apple and Jerry Bruckheimer, was installed in the straight line of the pits, between those of Mercedes and Red Bull, noted AFP on Thursday. Mercedes has also modified a single-seater with the characteristics of an F2 to revamp it into an F1 that can blend into the peloton. The car, black and gold, was unveiled on Thursday and has already driven on the legendary English circuit. It will run again on Friday afternoon between the first two free practice sessions of the GP de Bretagne, but will not mingle with the real single-seaters competing in the F1 world championship.
Very few details concerning the scenario have leaked out, but Brad Pitt should play a pilot at the end of his career who must deal with the emergence in his stable of a young promising pilot played by the Briton Damson Idris. The American superstar will benefit from the advice of seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who is also the film’s co-producer. “It’s exciting to see the project taking shape and filming starting this weekend. Brad (Pitt) is a connoisseur of motorsport, he also loves watching MotoGP, he is a motor racing enthusiast,” said the Briton Thursday at a press conference. However, this effervescence does not seem to contaminate all the drivers in the paddock, who, for some, have other concerns. “You seem to know more about this movie than I do! For me, it doesn’t change my plans, I stay focused on scoring points. And if I run into Brad Pitt, it’ll be a fun moment that I’ll remember. But that doesn’t change my approach for the weekend at all,” said Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine) during a press briefing.
The film, directed by American Joseph Kosinski, who just had great success with Top Gun: Maverick, is scheduled for release in late 2024 or early 2025 and will be released on the Apple platform.