Everything We Know About Brad Pitt's F1 Movie

The actor graced the British Grand Prix to film scenes for his upcoming racing epic.
Published: 12 July 2023

After nearly three decades of life—having forfeited by dreams of becoming a baseball superstar, a Margaritaville mixologist, and a magazine editor—I've finally decided what I want to be when I grow up: Sonny Hayes.

Simply... Sonny Hayes.

Hayes, if you're unfamiliar, is a fictional F1 driver. Relative unknown Brad Pitt will play the (admittedly fictional) racer in Joseph Kosinski's upcoming F1 movie, which is currently untitled—and thin on plot details. Hayes even graced the real-life British Grand Prix this past weekend, filming scenes alongside fellow driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). According to ESPN, Kosinski's production set up camp on the racetrack itself, whipping around a F2 car, setting up shop in its own garage, and trotting out both characters for the national anthem. "I'm a little giddy right now, I've got to say," Pitt told Sky Sports. "It's great to be here. Having such a laugh, time of my life."

Now, there's no release date for the film—which, by the way, has F1 legend Lewis Hamilton on board as a producer—but Pitt did divulge a few details about its plot."So [Sonny Hayes] has a horrible crash, kind of craps out and disappears and is racing in other disciplines... His friend, played by Javier Bardem, is a team owner. They're a last-placed owner, 21, 22 on the grid. They've never scored a point. They have a young phenom played by Damson Idris. He brings me in as a kind of Hail Mary, and hijinks ensue."

Pitt also hinted that we'll see some of Kosinski's signature camera tricks, a la his last film, Top Gun: Maverick: "Tell you what's amazing about it," Pitt continued. "You'll see the cameras mounted all over the car. You've never seen speed, you've never seen the G-forces like this. it's really amazing."

But I don't want you to think about that right now. At this very moment? I'd simply like to direct your attention to how damn cool—and believable!—Pitt looks in F1 gear. Look at the shot below. The man's strutting across the grass in a white suit, has ads for god-knows-what all over it, and he doesn't care about the prying journalist and his newsboy hat. He even unzips his suit at the top, because the man is biologically flame-resistant! To hell with it! Sonny Hayes even wears little racing booties, which only Sonny Hayes can make cool.

Anyway, Sonny Hayes, if you're reading this? Just know you're my hero

Originally published on Esquire US

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