‘F1: The Movie’ Trailer: Brad Pitt drives fast with F1 film
Brad Pitt plays the veteran driver who was hired for the Formula 1 race team, while Damson Idris is the hotshot racer in “F1: The Movie.”
New York – “I’m kidding,” says Brad Pitt. “Is Javier leaving?”
So Pitt is Javier Bardem, who is out of his chair and hugs him to Bear. Seconds later, Kelly Condon and Damson Idris jumped out of their seats, choking the smiling Spanish actor.
A group interview with the core cast of “F1 The Movie” (at the theater on June 27th) is actually suspended when Bardem apologizes for having to dash to the airport.
“Love You Bro, I’m grateful for everything about this film,” Pitt tells Bardem before returning to the group. “I know he’ll play Max Cady in the new Apple TV+ adaptation of ‘Cape Fear’,” Pitt says, rubbing his sturdy jaw. “He’s going to kill it.”
Questions about the authentic chemistry between this quartet is rested by this improvisation moment in the hotel meeting room.
If you spend time with the four of you, you’ll still think you have a personality. Pitt, 61, a laidback but wise racer, Sony Hayes accepts a challenge from the team-owned Par Reuben Cervantes (Baldem, 56) and returns to racing’s Pinnacle. The journey includes an affair with Steely Race Engineer Kate McKenna (Condon, 42) and a pushback from Brush teammate Joshua Pierce (Idris, 33).
To make “F1”, director Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) and his cast and crew are embedded in the real world of Formula 1 and filmed with precision choreographed in a 10-minute window during an actual F1 race.
For Pitt, driving a Formula 1 car at up to 180 mph is a lifelong thrill
For Pitt, who trained with Idris for four months and drove Formula 1 cars at up to 180 mph, those “F1” filming memories remain fresh.
“It was more expensive than I’ve ever experienced,” Pitt said. “I can bring myself back to that car with a particular truck and I’m happy right away.”
Pitt, who is also the producer of the film, is leaning towards Idris. “What was your favorite track?”
Idris doesn’t hesitate. “It’s certainly on the Austin circuit in the Americas,” says the British Nigerian actor. “There are so many parts of the legendary world track that make up Cota. Plus, I did some crazy spins like 150 mph and survived.”
Pitt laughs. “Yeah, that’s right! Well, for me…”
“Spa!” Idris is sloppy, referring to the famous Belgian truck. Pitt smiles.
“Yes,” he says. “Spa, what a joy.”
In fact, it’s a great pleasure as the actor almost ruined the take there. Coach Kosinski reports that whenever Pitt’s car approaches a famous turn called the Aulouge, the car can be slightly in the air, Pitt couldn’t contain his smile. He had to be coached to keep his face stern.
The real racer not only helped Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, but also appeared in F1 The Movie
The “F1” star says filming the film in the F1 fanatic world brought valuable authenticity to their performances.
For Pitt and Idris, it meant taking driving tips from the likes of Lewis Hamilton, the legendary seven-time F1 world champion in the UK and one of the film’s producers.
“Lewis is one of my heroes,” Idris says. “I definitely wanted to impress him. When we were in Silverstone (in the UK) I was flat because he was watching. Luckily I didn’t crash.”
Wasn’t driving 180 mph a scary thing for an amateur?
“That’s not what makes your butt packer,” Pitt says. “You’re instantly satisfied with it, because the straight is when you can think of it on the floor and think of it, but the rest is pure being, dealing with cars that can stop at dimes or take corners at 140 mph.
His words got so good that he received an offer to drive professionally after the filming was wrapped. Pitt admits similarly.
“If I was five or ten years older, I’d do it now,” he says, reminiscent of the end-of-the-line pursuits of fellow acting legends Steve McQueen and Paul Newman.
“But I learned enough to do this film and learn that I need to spend a few years dedicated to this alone to really learn about racecraft,” he says. “I feel there is more (the film) story to tell.”
Javier Bardem has a car secret that makes Brad Pitt laugh
Due to his role as owner of the fictional F1 team APXGP, Bardem says he enjoyed immersing himself in the world of wealthy and energetic team bosses, including Aston Martin and Mercedes Totowolf billionaire Lawrence Stroll.
“What I loved was seeing these elegant and successful people lose it all at once during a race. They were just that passion,” he says. “You could be a billionaire, but when things were on the line, no one played it cool.”
Was Bardem seduced to hit the track with his fellow actors, especially considering his character is a retired Formula 1 driver? Questions draw blank expressions from the actor.
“Well, no,” he says. “I don’t drive.”
Bardem’s “F1” ally will be cracked down immediately. The actors are no joke.
“Yeah, he only plays one on TV,” Pitt jokes as Bardem rolls his eyes.
Condon points out that playing an F1 engineer in the world of mostly male counterparts was a welcome challenge. She inspired all women with her key F1 roles ranging from public relations to racial engineering.
“These women have no issues with men. They are extremely capable and continue to do whatever they are tasked with doing,” she says. “The only problem was when we all had to share the same toilet in our garage. I’m always like, ‘putting the toilet seat, young people.’ ”
Pitt starts laughing. “It wasn’t me, Kelly,” he says. “And I’ve always said, ‘Hey, I’ve raised the toilet seat.’ ”
Who is F1 driver or actor most scrutinized? Brad Pitt and his co-stars are unquestionable
Condon shoots at the pit. The Oscar-nominated actress for “Banshee of Innichelin” exudes both soft Irish femininity and pointless robustness. So when asked who made it worse from the perspective of public scrutiny, Formula 1 drivers or actors, she doesn’t hesitate.
“It’s even worse for the driver,” she says, throwing around from some exp. “They’re burned into everything. But to ask these young people to drive and push to win at that level, then push the microphone into their faces and answer like a politician, it seems you’re asking them to snap. I’ll lose it!”
Pitt laughs. “Yeah, she should not doubt that.”
Condon mentions how former Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen was fined at a press conference with his Red Bull team for cursing on the radio in the car. The resulting repulsion reduced the fine.
“So you want a bloody robot to drive your car?” she says in real rage. “Let them do their thing.”
Pitt agrees. “We had a lot of respect for them,” he says. Remember how delighted the cast were to see so many of those drivers at the recent premiere of the film at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
“I saw Yuki (the Red Bull horned) and he says, “I loved it, but in the movie, you hand me, you hand me, you give me Blood, not good,” Pitt says with a laugh. “I said, ‘Don’t worry about Yuki, it’s a movie, it makes me believe it.”
For all four actors, it is clear that being caught up in the realm of Formula 1 races, rather than on the soundstage, has made the impression to endure.
“It was very exciting to be allowed to enter this travel circus, this special ecosystem,” Pitt says.
Condon and Idris nodded. Pitt shook his head, then looked up and smiled.
“Ah, man,” he says, his voice just above the whisper. “I miss that.”
