How Lewis Hamilton Tested Brad Pitt Despite Championship Setback in 2021
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Hollywood star Brad Pitt has opened up on how seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton talked him through his role in the F1 movie just after the controversial 2021 season had concluded. Pitt also appreciated how kind and cheerful Hamilton was during his first track outing, despite losing his potential eighth championship title that year.
Though its American release is set for June 27, F1's worldwide release on June 25 made huge noise, courtesy of the authentic premier class racing action it promised earlier through stunning camera angles and high-speed sequences.
Hamilton, who served as a co-producer in the movie, was responsible for ensuring it adhered to real-world F1 realism. The scope of his role expanded to not only scenes involving cars and F1 circuits, but also to the actors who were playing the roles of racing drivers.
(L-R) Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton attend the Apple Original Films & Warner Bros. Pictures "F1" World Premiere in Times Square on June 16, 2025 in New York City.
(L-R) Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton attend the Apple Original Films & Warner Bros. Pictures "F1" World Premiere in Times Square on June 16, 2025 in New York City.Pitt played the role of a seasoned F1 driver, Sonny Hayes, who returns to an underdog team to train a young driver, played by Damson Idris. Pitt revealed on the Beyond the Grid podcast that Hamilton was fully involved in the movie, despite coming off a championship loss to Max Verstappen in 2021.
The 2021 season finale was struck by controversy when then-FIA race director Michael Masi misapplied the rules at the late safety car race restart following an incident when Hamilton was on his way to win the race and his eighth title. However, the restart gave Verstappen the edge, since he was on fresh tires, while Hamilton was on worn-out tires.
Despite the fallout that prevented him from creating history, Pitt revealed how Hamilton remained fully committed to his role in the F1 movie. He said:
"He is such a gentleman, so kind. Even his texts are always so kind and formal. There's a formality even of respect and politeness.
"We drew on him a lot. I mean, we had 12 hour sessions in this very hotel in London, where we were just like, 'What about this, what about that, what about this.' And he would take us through, and it had to pass his smell test, you know, to keep us within the parameters of reality. Because we're Hollywood, and we like a bit of drama.
"This is so smart of Joe [Joseph Kosinski], when he first came up with this idea to call Lewis and to get a seven-time world champion on board to help us make the introductions and open up the doors and sell this idea.
"I mention that because that was just after the '21 season, and at the same time with us, he was nothing but grace and business and taking us through racing."
Pitt also revealed the story when he and Hamilton were on the racetrack for the first time after the season finale. Little did the Hollywood celebrity know that he was being tested for his racing abilities, which only ended with Hamilton laughing out loud. He said:
"I think they were actually testing me out. I didn't know that at the time, but I think they were actually like, let's see, can you keep it on the track."
He added:
"He was having a laugh. I think it was the first time he'd been back on the track since the '21 season.
"And he was having a laugh. As much as he could scare me.
"We went off, we came out this carousel thing, which is this banked bit, and came off and into the gravel. I mean, the walls are right here, and he's howling, having a great time."
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