Question of the Day - 01 December 2024

Yes, Brad Pitt was making a movie in Las Vegas during Formula 1 The movie is titled, appropriately enough, F1.

The actor, who turns 61 in a few weeks, stars as a former F1 driver forced to retire after sustaining injuries in a major crash. But he returns to the sport to mentor a young driver, played by Nigerian-English actor Damson Idris. Kerry Condon, the 41-year-old Irish actress, co-stars as the love interest. The film is directed by Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick fame and seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is a technical adviser on the project to ensure the movie is as authentic as possible. F1 is being produced by mega Hollywood mogul Jerry Bruckheimer, whose blockbuster films are far too numerous to even list, from Flashdance and Pirates of the Caribbean to Black Hawk Down.

On Thursday night after the practice rounds, gold modified-Mercedes APX (Aluminium Performance Crossover) F2 race cars zoomed around the course. These cars are used in the Formula 2 Championship, a feeder series for Formula 1, and are designed to help young drivers develop their skills in preparing for the Big Show. On Thursday night, the APXs were outfitted with cameras, while camera operators and film crew were strategically placed around the track to capture the action. The cars were souped up to be even louder than the F1 cars themselves, which are plenty loud; other sound effects included backfires and sputtering for dramatic purposes. Filming also took place in team garages and around the pit building, with some cameos from F1 drivers in town for the race. 

Pitt was behind the wheel for the some of the action, doing his own stunts; he was also filmed "fainting" on the pavement in one sequence. He and Condon were also spotted filming non-racing scenes around the Strip last week. Other locations have included the Mexico City Grand Prix and a California state park.

F1 is slated to be released in June 2025.