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Brad Pitt Takes McLaren F1 Car For Test at Circuit of the Americas
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The McLaren Racing Formula One team had Hollywood star Brad Pitt drive the 2023 MCL60 F1 car in a private test with Lando Norris at the Circuit of the Americas. This comes a few days after the premiere of the F1 movie in New York, which stars Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a veteran driver who makes his way back into the sport to mentor a young driver in an underdog team, played by Damson Idris.
While early reviews from critics have been released, fans will have to wait until the movie is released on June 25 (June 27 for North America). Co-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Joseph Kosinski, famous for his work on 'Top Gun: Maverick,' a strong emphasis has been placed on ensuring the movie stays true to real-world F1 racing.
Related: Damson Idris Reveals Brad Pitt's Key Contribution to 'F1' Movie at Goodwood Members' Meeting
Co-producer Lewis Hamilton was entrusted with the task of ensuring F1 portrays the sport in the most realistic way. For the same reason, filming was carried out on actual Grand Prix weekends. The car used in the movie is a Formula 2 car that was designed to replicate an F1 car belonging to a fictional APXGP team.
Brad Pitt, star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, and Joseph Kosinski, director of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, talk on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain...
Brad Pitt, star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, and Joseph Kosinski, director of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, talk on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 09, 2023 in Northampton, England. MoreFor Pitt, the F1 fever might have intensified, considering he took an actual F1 car out on the track at Austin's COTA on Thursday. McLaren confirmed that the private test had taken place, but further details were kept under wraps.
McLaren even teased Pitt's track outing on X with the caption, "It's a Sonny day in Austin 👀." Also noteworthy were the letters BP on the race overalls that stand for Brad Pitt.
Pitt, who was at F1's premiere at Times Square, told Sky Sports F1 about his soft spot for racing movies. He said:
"Can you believe they even let us in? It's insane.
"Let us in the world. Let us in race weekends. Let us in to embed ourselves into the season. I've just never heard of anything like it. Especially this sport, it's so revered. It's really special.
"We just drew from history. A little this, a little that and that we had Lewis Hamilton keep us straight off and running.
"I love this movie. I think it wins on so many levels and I love sports movies. I love racing movies, when they work, and I think we're there."
George Russell gatecrashing Brad Pitt's interview at the F1 premiere 🍿 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 17, 2025
Related: Lewis Hamilton and Apple CEO Tim Cook Open Up About 'F1' Movie Collaboration
