MOVIE NEWS – Brad Pitt is gearing up for a major comeback with the highly anticipated sports action film F1. In recent years, the actor has been more involved in filmmaking as a producer, but this project marks his long-awaited return to the big screen in what could be one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. Pitt is fully committed—he’s also producing the film—but making it wasn’t an easy feat. According to director Joseph Kosinski, the entire production hinged on one crucial element: Pitt had to learn to drive a Formula One car, a machine capable of reaching 230 mph.

Directed by Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger, the same duo behind Top Gun: Maverick, F1 has already been described as Top Gun on wheels. Alongside Pitt, the film boasts a star-studded cast including Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Shea Whigham, and Tobias Menzies. Additionally, real-life Formula One drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will make appearances. The film is set to premiere worldwide on June 25, 2025, with American audiences getting it two days later on June 27.

Brad Pitt Had to Learn to Drive for Real

As reported by CinemaBlend, Kosinski delved into Pitt’s driving preparation during a virtual press conference while presenting the movie’s latest trailer. The director explained that months of rigorous training were essential for the actors to handle the high-speed cars themselves. Simply relying on visual effects wouldn’t cut it—the driving had to be real.

“We actually bought six real F2 race cars and worked closely with Mercedes AMG, the Formula One team, to build authentic race cars that could carry our cameras, recording equipment, and transmitters. So every time you see Brad or Damson driving in this movie, they’re actually in one of these real race cars on a real F1 track.”

F1 is being produced by Pitt, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Lewis Hamilton. But the legendary F1 driver did more than just oversee the production—he actively participated in training the actors. According to Kosinski, Pitt’s driving skills were a make-or-break factor for the entire film.

“It took months—literally months—of training. But that first day was unforgettable. It was me, Brad, and Lewis Hamilton at the track together, all hopping into sports cars and taking turns driving. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments. I mean, having Lewis Hamilton as your driving instructor? That’s something I’ll never forget. But the main thing we had to find out that day was whether Brad could actually drive. Because if he couldn’t, this whole film wouldn’t have worked.”

Brad Pitt Isn’t Tom Cruise, But He’s a Natural Behind the Wheel

In most cases, CGI would have been enough to sell the illusion. And Pitt, unlike Tom Cruise, isn’t known for pulling off gravity-defying stunts. Safety was a key priority for the production.

Still, Kosinski confirmed that Pitt had an innate ability behind the wheel:

“Lewis was really impressed to discover that Brad had this natural ability right from the start. I don’t know if he was born with it or if it comes from riding motorcycles, but he just has this instinct for driving. And that gave Lewis a lot of confidence that we could actually pull this off.”

“Brad just has that natural feel for the grip of the car, which is crucial because what we’re doing in this film is dangerous. You can’t be hesitant. And when you see Brad driving, that’s not acting—he’s genuinely focused on keeping the car on the track and avoiding the walls in every single scene. That’s something you just can’t fake. I hope audiences will feel that authenticity when they watch the movie.”

Source: CinemaBlend