How real is Brad Pitt's 'F1 The Movie' compared to actual Formula 1 racing?

USA Today

21 hours ago

Saying Formula 1 racing is the top expression of motorsport is sure to get an argument from fans of NASCAR and Indy Car, especially since F1 has made major inroads in U.S. popularity over the past few years.
The glamour-meets-high-tech nature of this European-bred sport is precisely what the director and producers of 'F1 The Movie' are banking on as the Brad Pitt-driven film hits theater and IMAX screens June 27.
'Lewis Hamilton (legendary F1 racer and 'F1 The Movie' producer) said to me he'd never seen a movie that captures what it's like to be in the car, so that was the challenge,' says director Joseph Kosinski, who also steered Tom Cruise through his aerial paces in 'Top Gun: Maverick.'
For those new to F1 the sport and curious about 'F1 The Movie,' we offer this primer.
What is Formula 1?
The various formulas for engine displacement and other technical aspects of single-seater (versus sports cars) European motor racing were determined long ago, with Formula 1 deemed the pinnacle of speed and technology. The very first race was held 75 years ago at Silverstone in England. Many top F1 racers start as kids in karting races, then graduate to Formula 3, then Formula 2, and finally, if they're talented and lucky enough, Formula 1.
Where are Formula 1 races held?
Currently, there are 24 races that unfold around the world, starting with Australia in March and wrapping in Abu Dhabi in December. Other host countries include Japan, Brazil, Italy, Belgium, the U.K. and the U.S., which now has races in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas.
Why is Formula 1 being talked about so much in the U.S. right now?
Formula 1 has a checkered past in the U.S., which at times held just one race and for a spell had none. But the current boom in interest is down to a range of reasons, including the popularity of Netflix's series 'Formula 1: Drive to Survive,' the ability of drivers to connect directly with fans through social media, and finally the sport being owned by an American company, Liberty Media.
Do Brad Pitt and Damson Idris really drive F1 cars in 'F1 The Movie'?
Yes, Pitt and Idris spent four months learning to drive real Formula 1 cars. 'If you see Brad's face, then it's him driving, and often at speeds up to around 180 mph,' says Kosinski. 'When they went into those turns at high speed, the G-forces on their bodies were insane.'
How did the 'F1' movie get Brad Pitt's high-speed laps on camera?
Instead of building a bulky camera car, Kosinski was advised by Mercedes F1 team leader and 'F1' producer Toto Wolff to have Mercedes build his crew real F1 cars that could have four small IMAX-quality cameras attached to the body. 'We took what we used on 'Top Gun,' and miniaturized them,' says Kosinski.
Did 'F1 The Movie' really shoot during actual F1 races?
Yes, F1 granted Kosinski permission to have his cast and crew set up during real F1 races, often giving them short windows between real practice laps to get their scenes shot. 'Sometimes that would become 5 minutes, and sometimes the window would vanish, so we had to be very light on our feet which made it exciting,' he says.
Did all that racing fun make 'F1' director Joseph Kosinski want to race for real?
Kosinski, who is a Porsche aficionado, says he loves spending time on a track, although he has only done so in sports cars and not open-wheel machines such as F1 cars. 'But I did get to hit the track with Lewis (Hamilton) giving me some instructions, and then I let him drive me around in a (Porsche) 911 GT3,' he says. 'To have the most winning F1 driver of all time show you what the real limit is is quite something.'
Who's faster, Brad Pitt or speed junkie Tom Cruise?
Kosinski has had the rare privilege of directing speed-demon movies with arguably the two biggest male stars on the planet, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. 'There are more similarities between them than you might think, and both are phenomenally talented,' he says. 'There are also stories about when they both did 'Interview with a Vampire' (in 1994) and there were famous go-kart battles between the two of them. I think people would pay to see that showdown for sure.'