Brad Pitt impresses on track in the new F1 film, guided by Lewis Hamilton, blending Hollywood drama with racing authenticity.
Lewis Hamilton is pleased with his experience as a consultant on the upcoming F1 movie, which is set to hit cinemas in about ten days. The seven-time world champion is happy with how the project turned out, combining Formula 1 passion with Hollywood spectacle.
“That was our goal. I don’t think any sport has ever been captured so immersively, especially in the way the race weekends were filmed. It was an incredible opportunity for Joe [Kosinski, director] and Jerry [Bruckheimer, producer]. I think they did a really good job with their approach,” Hamilton said.
“I believe they captured some really beautiful footage. We had a sort of early screening for the drivers in Monaco, which was really amazing for us. For me, it was a bit nerve-wracking because it’s a four-year project and you want everyone to like it.”
“Just before the screening, Jerry told us ‘remember, we tried to make the film as authentic as possible, but it’s also Hollywood.’ So it’s really the best of both worlds.”
The Ferrari driver had the opportunity to work with Brad Pitt and immediately noticed the actor’s familiarity with motorsport, especially in how he handled himself on track.
“I remember the days I got to work with Brad, we were at Silverstone. Actually, we did a track day together in Los Angeles. I got to drive, he drove as well, and right away you could tell he already knew where the racing lines were. He had some natural feel. It wasn’t unfamiliar to him.”
“When I was a kid, I worked as a driving coach to earn some money, and I had a few bad drivers along the way. They just didn’t know where they were on the track. You could immediately tell Brad had an idea of the racing line.”
“I didn’t get a chance to drive on track with Damson [Idris, actor], but both of them went through training. They were both really open-minded and truly immersed themselves in what it takes to become a racing driver, which was really cool to see.”
“Throughout the whole process, it was amazing to talk to Brad and witness his surprise. He was like ‘wow, what our bodies go through,’ especially when he got to F2. He messaged me after the test saying, ‘I now understand even more what you drivers go through.’ I hope that shows in the driving during the race scenes.”
A strong behind-the-scenes portrayal?
Nico Hülkenberg praised how the film captured the inner workings of the pinnacle of motorsport: “We’ll see how much the sport grows from it, but it was obviously interesting and enjoyable to already get a glimpse or to see it portrayed.”
“I think the audience is going to enjoy it. I believe they captured more angles of the industry, what the teams and drivers do, everything that goes into it, especially during preparation time and between races. Personally, I liked it. It was pretty cool.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli also appreciated how the film showcased the downtime drivers face, as well as the work they put in away from the spotlight of the racetrack: “There’s not much to add to what Nico said.”
“I think they captured all the moments – the moments on the grid, but also what goes on behind the scenes, between the races, the preparation needed, not only physically but also mentally, and the media side too. I think they really portrayed our world well, and the audience is going to love it.”
Liam Lawson anticipates a similar effect to what Drive to Survive had in 2018, particularly in its appeal to a new audience: “It’s mainly for people who haven’t followed the sport before or aren’t already interested in Formula 1.”
“I think it will probably bring in more fans, which is obviously a good thing. I also think the car shots – without saying too much – were… I’m not sure of the exact word, but I’d say they’re impressive. Immersive, let’s say. So yes, it was cool.”
