Brad Pitt takes on F1 for real, drives McLaren at Austin's Circuit of the Americas
AUSTIN, June 22 — Brad Pitt, whose new F1 movie is out next week, has now driven a Formula One car for real after testing a McLaren at Austin's Circuit of the Americas.
The reigning world champions confirmed the Hollywood A lister drove a 2023 McLaren MCL60 car at the Texas track on Thursday.
Media reports said the British-based team had been carrying out a private test with F1 regular Lando Norris and F2 driver Alex Dunne.
It was the first time 61-year-old Pitt, who plays the fictional racing driver Sonny Hayes in the Apple Originals movie, had driven a real Formula One car on track.
The cars used in the making of the film were Formula Two cars, modified by Mercedes to look like real grand prix racers.
Champions McLaren had teased the drive on Thursday with a social media post of overalls with the initials BP and the caption 'It's a Sonny day in Austin'.
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, a co-producer of the movie, said in March that Pitt had shown real speed while testing the F2 cars.
'Watching Brad drive around at speeds over 180 miles an hour was really impressive to see because it's not something you can just learn overnight,' he said.
'The dedication and the focus that Brad put into this process has been amazing to witness.' — Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
30 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
‘How to Train Your Dragon' flies high again at North American box office, outpaces ‘28 Years Later' in second week
LOS ANGELES, June 23 — 'How to Train Your Dragon,' a live-action reboot of the popular 2010 animated film, set the North American box office ablaze again in its second week, industry estimates showed Sunday. The family-friendly film from Universal and DreamWorks Animation tells the story of a Viking named Hiccup (Mason Thames) who strikes up a friendship with Toothless the dragon. Its US$37 million haul was enough to beat out Columbia Pictures' zombie sequel '28 Years Later,' which took in US$30 million despite coming nearly two decades after the last release in the trilogy, '28 Weeks Later.' 'This is an excellent opening for the third episode in a horror series,' said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. 'The weekend figure is above average for the genre, and pending final numbers it's approximately three times the opening of the last episode.' Critics' reviews and audience ratings have been strong for the Danny Boyle-directed threequel, which picks up—as the title suggests—more than a generation after the initial outbreak of the Rage Virus. 'The long layoff has had no negative impact; in fact, it's given the sequel time to add a new younger age group to the audience,' Gross added. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the weekend was the poor performance of Pixar Animation's 'Elio,' which limped into third place with US$21 million in ticket sales, on a US$150 million budget. Gross said that while the tally would be respectable for most animation studios, it was the lowliest theatrical debut in Pixar's history—despite excellent reviews. Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch,' another live-action remake, added US$9.7 million in its fifth week, extending a triumphant run for the film about a Hawaiian girl (Maia Kealoha) and her blue alien friend (Chris Sanders). The fourth-placed entry has now grossed a whopping US$910 million worldwide, according to Exhibitor Relations. In fifth place—and also in its fifth week—is 'Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning,' the latest, and supposedly final, entry in the hugely successful Tom Cruise spy thriller franchise. The Paramount film took US$6.6 million in North America, pushing it to US$540 million worldwide. Rounding out the top 10 were: 'Materialists' (US$5.8 million) 'Ballerina' (US$4.5 million) 'Karate Kid: Legends' (US$2.4 million) 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' (US$1.9 million) 'Kuberaa' (US$1.8 million)
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Three Vermeers, one theme: The art of the love letter on view in New York
NEW YORK, June 23 — In a special exhibit featuring just three paintings, the Frick Collection in New York is inviting viewers to contemplate the age and the art of seduction by the written word. The show brings together a trio of paintings by 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer: the Frick's own Mistress and Maid, The Love Letter on loan from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and Woman Writing a Letter with her Maid from the National Gallery of Ireland. They are three of six paintings by Vermeer (1632-1675) that focus on the reading and writing of letters. They also depict interactions between women of different classes. Each painting features a woman and a female servant who has likely become a confidante and an intermediary as her mistress conducts a romantic relationship, said exhibit curator Robert Fucci. A visitor looks at 'Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid' painting during the opening of the new exhibition 'Vermeers love Letters' at The Frick Collection in New York City June 18, 2025. — AFP pic 'While the contents of the letters in Vermeer's paintings are not made clear, they are most likely amorous,' he said. 'Courtship and love letters were an important part of the artist's social context and a prevalent artistic theme.' In Vermeer's era, women had increasing autonomy in choosing their life partners, Fucci noted. 'Servants played a crucial role. Employers entrusted them with delivery, especially when messages needed to be shared covertly,' he added. Visitors look at 'The Love Letter' painting during the opening of the new exhibition 'Vermeers love Letters' at The Frick Collection in New York City June 18, 2025. In a special exhibit comprising just three paintings, the Frick Collection of New York is inviting viewers to contemplate the age and the art of seduction by the written word. — AFP pic A debt with the baker 'Vermeer's Love Letters,' on view until the end of August, is the first show on offer since the Frick reopened its doors in April following a top-to-bottom, US$330-million (RM1.4-billion) renovation. The 20th century mansion filled with paintings, sculptures, and decorative pieces dating from the Renaissance to the 19th century now has 10 new galleries on its second floor, in what used to be the Frick family's private quarters. Two of the Vermeer paintings — worth a fortune today — helped the artist's wife, Catharina Bolnes, settle a debt with a baker after she was widowed with 11 children. The show is the first of the Dutch master's works in New York since 2001. The intimate offering is in sharp contrast to the sprawling Vermeer retrospective at the Rijksmuseum in 2023. Featuring 28 of his 35 known paintings, that was the largest collection of Vermeer's work ever assembled in one place, and drew thousands of art lovers. 'Vermeer certainly continues to compel people and to inspire people today,' said Aimee Ng, another curator at the Frick. — AFP
Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Volkswagen challenges Waymo with launch of electric ID. Buzz autonomous robotaxi fleet in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, June 22 — Volkswagen, through its subsidiary MOIA, is preparing to roll out its first ID. Buzz AD autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles in 2026, in collaboration with Uber. This initiative is part of a strategic partnership with the goal of deploying several thousand electric robotaxis in the United States over the next 10 years. MOIA is a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group that focuses on developing shared transportation services, particularly on-demand shuttles. It has announced the upcoming launch of a robotaxi service consisting of a fleet of ID. Buzz AD vehicles. The ID. Buzz AD is an electric van equipped with Mobileye technology, which includes cameras, radars and LiDAR sensors. The vehicle thus has precise 360-degree vision for up to 400 meters. Volkswagen promises level 4 autonomous driving capabilities, meaning that no human intervention is required. The first vehicles are set to enter the testing phase in Los Angeles at the end of 2025, with at least one safety operator on board. A commercial launch is planned for 2026. A roll-out in Europe is also planned, probably in Germany to start with. With the goal of deploying thousands of robotaxis in major US cities, Volkswagen is stepping on Waymo's toes, taking advantage of legislation favourable to the commercial operation of fully autonomous fleets. Waymo currently operates around 1,500 autonomous taxis in the United States, spread across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin. The company plans to add 2,000 more by the end of 2026, notably by expanding its service to cities such as Atlanta, Miami and New York. — ETX Studio
