Brad Pitt has been welcomed with open arms at Silverstone, as the Hollywood A-lister begins shooting his upcoming Formula 1 film.
Co-produced by Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, 'Apex' will star Pitt and up-and-coming English actor Damson Idris. Director Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick fame got cameras rolling on Thursday ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix and the crew are set to shoot at various race meets this season, with a release date eyed for next year on Apple TV+.
Images of the film's garage emerged on Wednesday, before the first photo of the Apex car on the track - not being driven by Pitt - were released on Thursday morning. There were fears that Pitt's presence would cause a distraction for F1 drivers, but as Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc explained, having another celebrity aboard the showboat shouldn't be too much of a problem.
"In the end, one more camera or one less camera, I don't think we realise it that much," Leclerc insisted. "I think it's amazing for the sport, though, I think it's great. It gives us really big visibility, big reach to people that might not know or might not be interested so much into Formula 1.
"Just for them to understand it in a better way, in a more lucrative way. And with the movie, I think is the best possible way. So no, or at least for me, it won't add any pressure, but I don't think [it will] for anybody as we are getting used to having cameras around."
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In the film - which also stars Irish actor and recent BAFTA winner Kerry Condon - Pitt will play Sonny Hayes, a veteran driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie, Joshua Pearce, played by Idris. The duo - and stunt drivers - will be racing in a black and gold car, which is reminiscent of the Rich Energy livery once used by Haas.
Discussing the project ahead of the Miami GP, producer and seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton explained that he hoped to ensure that the film would be "diverse" and make the sport look "how it's supposed to" in the future. "I don't know absolutely every single plan with all the things we'll be doing in the paddock," the British legend admitted.
"I'm more focused on making sure the script is where it needs to be. That's where all the time is currently, going through the script. We've got a really great and diverse cast. Joe's focus is to make us as embedded in this sport as possible.
"For me it's to make sure it's authentic, and that all of you and racing fans see its authenticity and say 'this is believable', and have a view of racing from a different perspective than you might see on TV. I'm spending a lot of time right now helping Joe and the team get the script right, it's an amazing process and I'm really enjoying it."
