Brad Pitt is set to drive during this year’s British Grand Prix weekend to film scenes for his upcoming Formula 1 movie on the sport, Hollywood star will drive an adapted Formula 2 car at Silverstone during the weekend of the Grand Prix which takes place on July 9.
Lewis Hamilton is helping to produce the movie, and the British driver’s Mercedes team has designed the bodywork for Pitt’s modified car, which is expected to take to the track between practice sessions at the sold-out Formula 1 event on July 9, with one caveat: no other cars will be on the circuit.
Apple has bought the rights to the movie with a reported budget of $140-million. Joseph Kosinski, the man behind Top Gun: Maverick, will direct the film, in which 59-year-old Pitt’s character comes out of retirement to take on a rookie driver.
Speaking about his role in the blockbuster ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton, said: “I’m focused on making sure the script is where it needs to be and making sure we have a great and diverse cast.
“Joe’s focus is to make sure we are as embedded into this sport as much as possible and it is current, and for me, it is to make sure that it is authentic, and that it is believable and also to provide a view of racing, from a different perspective than you might see on TV.
“I am spending a lot of time right now helping Joe and the team get the script right, and that is an amazing process and something I am really enjoying,” added Hamilton.
F1 is in the USA this weekend for the Miami Grand Prix, the first of three races in the country this season, with races at Circuit of the Americas and the all-new Las Vegas Grand Prix. (Additional reporting by PA Media)