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Miami Herald
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Pitt stop: How Las Vegas helped bring ‘F1 The Movie' to life
LAS VEGAS - We've all had that week at work. There was a project due or an uptick in responsibilities. Maybe a couple of key people were out. You were pulled in a thousand directions and weren't sure how you'd get everything done. Focus on it. Really try to put yourself back inside those moments. Then throw Brad Pitt into the mix, along with everything that comes with a star of his magnitude, including a hundred-person film crew, and you'll have a sense of what it was like in November when F1 and "F1 The Movie" descended upon the Las Vegas Grand Prix. A whole new look at racing Few summer blockbusters have had the access that "F1" enjoyed. Heck, some documentaries don't get that close to their subjects. Journeyman driver Sonny Hayes (Pitt) lives in a van, wears mismatched socks and hasn't been on a Formula One track since crashing out of the circuit three decades ago. But when his old friend Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) is at risk of losing his struggling race team, Sonny signs on to drive for him and mentor promising rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). The movie follows the traveling circus that is Formula One to the last nine races of the 2024 season, starting with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The cast and crew were embedded throughout. "They were so giving and opened up all their doors," Pitt says of F1 in the film's production notes. "We were able to shoot on race weekends, shoot on podiums, shoot during the national anthem. We had our own garage. We even shot on our pit wall while the races were going on." After months of training, Pitt and Idris got behind the wheels of Formula Two cars designed by Mercedes-AMG that were similar to, yet roughly $14 million cheaper than, their Formula One counterparts. By utilizing the "white space" in each weekend's schedule - 10 minutes here, 15 minutes there - the actors drove on the actual tracks with fans in the stands. The Las Vegas Grand Prix made international headlines when Pitt's stunt double was filmed collapsing on the track in footage that didn't make the movie's final cut. What viewers will see is some of the most breathtaking racing footage ever captured, thanks to new camera technology that could be mounted on 15 positions on each car. The result is the kind of immersive, you-are-there view of racing that you'd expect to see somewhere like Sphere. 'Incredible placement' When Brian Gullbrants saw Wynn Las Vegas on the screen, he put his fists in the air and cheered. This was during the "F1" world premiere with the movie's stars, three-quarters of the current Formula One grid and several thousand other bigwigs at New York's Radio City Music Hall. "My wife looked at me and said, 'Putyourhandsdown,'" recalls Gullbrants, COO North America, Wynn Resorts. "I was so excited." Shortly after arriving in Las Vegas, Pitt's Sonny enters his Encore suite, walks over to the window and stares out at the neighboring Wynn. The scene, which Gullbrants calls "incredible placement in an unbelievable movie," was filmed the Tuesday before the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Director Joseph Kosinski ("Top Gun: Maverick") shot it on the floor where Pitt, the film's other top stars and producers stayed. "With the level of customers that we had and the celebrities that were here and the drivers that were here," Gullbrants says, "we already had all the security details in place. … It went very smoothly. You would never know we were shooting a major motion picture in our hotel while we had all of these people here." He's hopeful "F1 The Movie" will increase interest in the sport in those pockets of the world that haven't yet embraced it and that it ultimately will lead to still more fans coming to the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Gullbrants already had one wish fulfilled when he spotted the Wynn logo in Pitt's hands. Sonny, a somewhat reformed gambler, is rarely without a deck of cards, whether he's flinging them one by one across the room or blindly pulling one to stick in his pocket before a race. He and Idris' Joshua get to know each other during a poker game inside a supper club as they vie for control of the race team. (The club is implied to be Wynn's Delilah, but those scenes were filmed on a soundstage in London.) During the premiere, Gullbrants whispered to his wife how thrilled he was to see Pitt using the Wynn-branded cards he'd given the production, even though he was convinced no one else would notice. "After the movie," Gullbrants says, "five different people at the screening came up and said, 'Wow, it was really great that you got your cards in there, too.' " 'The glamour of Las Vegas' Throughout most of "F1 The Movie," Sonny is presented as something of a cowboy, a lone wolf in a sport that requires teamwork. By the time the action moves to Las Vegas, he's ready to let down his guard, reveal some things about his past and prove he's more than just a beautiful agent of chaos. Such an important scene demands an exceptional location, which is where The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas came in. "They were looking for a room that really captured the glamour of Las Vegas," says Allyson Wadman, associate director of public relations for MGM Resorts International. "Something that was edgy, luxurious and kind of in the middle of all the energy on the Las Vegas Strip." The production found that in a Cosmopolitan suite that has a wraparound balcony overlooking the Fountains of Bellagio and a large section of the Las Vegas Grand Prix course. The thing about such a perfect location, though, is that it's already a hot commodity among high rollers during race week. "We try to be really flexible," Wadman says, "especially when it's a really great opportunity to showcase our property and the city itself." Planning for that shoot began in early 2023, before the strikes by the acting and writing guilds pushed principal photography back a year. When it finally came time to film on that Tuesday night in November, there was more than enough pressure and distraction to go around. "You think about all of the street closures, the grandstands, all of the hundreds of thousands of people," Wadman says. "Operationally, that is already a lot going on for all of the resorts on the Strip." The "F1" team removed light fixtures, rearranged the furniture and applied dark paint over the balcony's white ceiling. "Those small little details of the suite, we were having meetings on meetings," Wadman says. Planning took "countless hours" over the course of several months. 'That world-class scene' Jason Strauss was watching Tiësto perform inside Omnia when the music stopped and the 1,500 or so clubgoers started milling about. Then it happened again. And again. For hours. Three days before the Dutch DJ would play there again while the Las Vegas Grand Prix roared by, the nightclub at Caesars Palace served as a movie set filled with extras. (The club was used again by Rosé for that "Messy" video.) It wasn't the typical Omnia experience, even aside from the stops and starts. The production added its own lights to the club's rigging, making the space brighter than ever. Footage shot in the 12 hours starting at 3 p.m. that Wednesday has been used in the movie's trailers and promotional videos. "It didn't really feel that sexy watching it," says Strauss, co-CEO of Tao Group Hospitality, which owns and operates the club. "But then seeing it in the trailer, it looked (expletive) sexy." Tao Group's parent company, Mohari Hospitality, has long-standing ties to Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion who's one of the movie's key producers. Tiësto was selected after being on both the production's shortlist of DJs and the Tao Group roster. "This is a major thing for our group," Strauss says, "but it's also a (big) thing for Vegas." The only time you really see Sonny and Joshua out on the town, taking in life away from the track, is when they're in Las Vegas. After that poker game, set the night before the race, Joshua heads to Omnia to unwind. "For them to say, when it comes to nightlife, Vegas has to embody that world-class scene, and of all the nightclubs in Vegas, they chose Omnia," Strauss says, calling it "just a great accolade." Tao Group is developing Omnia outposts around the world, and Strauss sees being tied so closely to Formula One as a huge stamp of approval. Especially when "F1 The Movie" shows Joshua, a hot young driver who can do anything he wants, hanging out there. "Guess what? That's what it is in real life," Strauss says with a confident laugh. "That's why it's going to resonate. It's very authentic." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Canada News.Net
a day ago
- Automotive
- Canada News.Net
George Russell wins from pole at Canadian Grand Prix
(Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images) Great Britain's George Russell captured his first F1 victory of the year, leading from wire-to-wire at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on Sunday. Russell earned the pole position with 'an incredible pole lap' on Saturday, fended off four-time world champion Max Verstappen at the start, and was not threatened the rest of the way. Russell described his sixth career pole position as 'probably the most exhilarating lap I've ever done in my life because around this circuit you've got to be so committed.' McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided four laps from the finish, knocking the former out of the race. Piastri managed to hold onto fourth place and extended his lead in the championship (198 points) over Norris to 22 points. The collision has prompted an investigation by race stewards. Verstappen, who finished second, is in third position overall (155), while Russell is fourth (136). Fourteen of 24 races remain on the 2025 circuit. Russell's Mercedes teammate, 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, finished third, becoming the third-youngest driver to earn a podium spot. 'It was so stressful but (I'm) super happy,' Antonelli said. 'I had a good start, managed to jump into P3 and just stayed up there at the front.' Russell earned his fourth career victory and his first since capturing the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2024. 'I want to thank the team and the factory for their efforts,' said Russell. 'Let's see what happens in the upcoming races but I'm just going to enjoy this one for now!' The drivers head to Austria for the MSC Cruises Austrian Grand Prix June 27-29.
Daily Tribune
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
Russell wins dramatic Canadian GP
AFP | Montreal George Russell secured Mercedes' first win of the season in the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday as McLaren's championship-chasing drivers crashed in the final laps of an intriguing and hectic race. The 27-year-old Briton beat close rival and four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.228 seconds under the safety car to claim his fourth career victory with his teenage Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli finishing third. The 18-year-old Italian rookie became the third-youngest podium finisher in Formula One history, showing composure in resisting late intense late pressure from championship leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who survived a collision with teammate Lando Norris, on his way to fourth. That ensured he extended his lead in the drivers' standings to 22 points ahead of Norris who crashed into him on lap 67 of the 70-lap race, breaking his front wing as he attempted to pass on the straight. 'Yep, I'm sorry,' said Norris of his crash with Piastri. 'It's all my bad, all my fault. Unlucky, sorry. Stupid from me.' Charles Leclerc finished fifth ahead of Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg. Esteban Ocon finished ninth for Haas, marking their 200th race with a solid points finish, ahead of Carlos Sainz for Williams. Russell was delighted to deliver his team's first win since the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year. ' It's amaz ing to be back on the top step. The last time was Vegas and last year here felt like it was a victory lost. But today we obviously got the victory thanks to that incredible pole lap and I am so happy to see Kimi on the podium as well.' Verstappen was quick to congratulate both Mercedes drivers. 'It was quite a good race although we were struggling on the tyres in the first two stints. We had an aggressive strategy and we managed to hang in there. And this was the maximum possible for us today.' Antonelli was greeted enthusiastically by the big crowd at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with his name chanted as he took his podium place. 'It was so stressful,' he said. 'But I am super happy! I had a good start, managed to jump to P3, and just stayed up there in the front. I am so happy to bring this podium home.' Antonelli overtakes Piastri at start The top six were all on mediums when the lights went out, Russell reacting quickest to pull clear while Antonelli passed Piastri for third. Verstappen clung on to Russell's early pace, staying within a second of him throughout the opening five laps, and three clear of Antonelli, as he tried to put him under pressure, but by lap seven the Mercedes was 1.5 seconds clear. By lap 10, it was two seconds as the Dutchman eased to save his tyres before pitting early on lap 13, for hards. This promoted Antonelli to P2 behind Russell with Piastri third ahead of Hamilton, Norris and Alonso. Verstappen rejoined ninth as Russell reacted and pitted, returning in seventh on hards before Antonelli pitted from the lead on lap 15 leaving Piastri leading Norris in a McLaren 1-2. Piastri pitted on lap 17 for hards, gifting Norris the lead after starting seventh on hards. After a bright start, Hamilton pitted on lap 16 and came out trapped 10th in traffic, with reported damage to his car, that delayed his pursuit before Russell, on lap 26, swept past Leclerc for second. Two laps later, Leclerc pitted for more hards followed by Norris, who took mediums. 'I don't understand this choice,' complained Leclerc, knowing it meant he had to pit again. All this restored Russell and Verstappen to lead again ahead of Antonelli and Piastri with Norris charging in fifth, ahead of the two Ferraris. Verstappen was early to pit again, on lap 37, but with a fast out-lap passed Antonelli, as Mercedes responded in vain to the Red Bull under-cut and began the second stops. Only five seconds separated the top four as they began a furious final 10-lap dash to the flag that resulted in the McLarens battling wheel-to-wheel for fourth place near the end when Norris hit the rear of his teammate's car and crashed out of the race.
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Lights to flag victory in Canada for Russell and Mercedes
Silver Arrows' first victory of the year was backed-up by its rookie driver, Kimi Antonelli, finishing third to score his first ever Formula 1 podium finish. George Russell secured his and Mercedes' first win of the season in the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday in an eventual 1-3 finish for the Silver Arrows. Delight for Mercedes, despair for McLaren The Briton beat four-time world champion Max Verstappen by 0.228 seconds under the safety car to claim his fourth career victory with his teenage teammate Kimi Antonelli finishing third. The Italian rookie became the third-youngest podium finisher in Formula One history, showing composure in resisting late intense late pressure from championship leader Oscar Piastri, who survived a collision with teammate Lando Norris on his way to fourth. That ensured he extended his lead in the drivers' standings to 22 points ahead of Norris who crashed into him on lap 67 of the 70 lap race, breaking his front wing as he attempted to pass on the straight. 'Yep, I'm sorry,' said Norris of his crash. 'It's all my bad, all my fault. Unlucky, sorry. Stupid from me.' Charles Leclerc finished fifth ahead of Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and the Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg. Esteban Ocon finished ninth for Haas, marking their 200th race with a solid points finish, ahead of Williams' Carlos Sainz. Russell was delighted to deliver his team's first win since the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year. 'It's amazing to be back on the top step. The last time was Vegas and last year here felt like it was a victory lost. But today we obviously got the victory thanks to that incredible pole lap and I am so happy to see Kimi on the podium as well.' Verstappen was quick to congratulate both Mercedes drivers. 'It was quite a good race although we were struggling on the tyres in the first two stints. We had an aggressive strategy and we managed to hang in there. And this was the maximum possible for us today.' Antonelli was greeted enthusiastically by the big crowd with his name chanted as he took his podium place. 'It was so stressful,' he said. 'But I am super happy! I had a good start, managed to jump to P3, and just stayed up there in the front. I am so happy to bring this podium home.' Race in detail The top six were all on mediums when the lights went out, Russell reacting quickest to pull clear while Antonelli passed Piastri for third. Verstappen clung on to Russell's early pace, staying within a second of him throughout the opening five laps, and three clear of Antonelli, as he tried to put him under pressure, but by lap seven, the Mercedes was 1.5 seconds clear. By lap 10, it was two seconds as the Dutchman eased to save his tyres before pitting early on lap 13, for hards. This promoted Antonelli to P2 behind Russell with Piastri third ahead of Hamilton, Norris and Alonso. Verstappen rejoined ninth as Russell reacted and pitted, returning in seventh on hards before Antonelli pitted from the lead on lap 15 leaving Piastri leading Norris in a McLaren 1-2. Piastri pitted on lap 17 for hards, gifting Norris the lead after starting seventh on hards. After a quick start, Hamilton pitted on lap 16 and came out trapped 10th in traffic, with reported damage to his car, that delayed his pursuit before Russell, on lap 26, swept past Leclerc for second. Two laps later, Leclerc pitted for more hards followed by Norris, who took mediums. 'I don't understand this choice,' complained Leclerc, knowing it meant he had to pit again. All this restored Russell and Verstappen to lead again ahead of Antonelli and Piastri with Norris charging in fifth, ahead of the two Ferraris. Verstappen was early to pit again, on lap 37, but with a fast out-lap passed Antonelli, as Mercedes responded in vain to the Red Bull under-cut and began the second stops. Only five seconds separated the top four as they began a furious final 10-lap dash to the flag that resulted in the McLarens battling wheel-to-wheel for fourth place near the end when Norris hit the rear of his team-mate's car and crashed out of the race. 'I've not actually seen the incident, so I don't know exactly what happened, but if Lando has taken full responsibility then that's how it goes I guess,' Piastri said. 'It was just a bit of a tricky race in general and not an ideal finish.' 'There's no one to blame but myself, so I apologise to the whole team and to Oscar as well for attempting something a bit too silly. Glad I didn't ruin his race and yeah apologies to the team,' Norris said.
TimesLIVE
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
F1 extends Las Vegas Grand Prix through 2027
The Las Vegas Grand Prix will remain on the Formula 1 schedule through at least 2027, F1 confirmed on Saturday. F1 officials and race organisers both expressed interest in keeping the event on the calendar into the next decade. 'We've agreed collectively that we're going to do a two-year extension for 2026 and '27,' Las Vegas GP president Emily Prazer said Saturday, per ESPN. 'We want to make sure that we're continuing to evolve what we're doing, but the intent is a much longer-term arrangement. Clark County, Nevada, already has confirmed plans to hold the race through 2032. 'The length of extensions don't really reflect anything other than it just makes sense incrementally, we know what's going to happen over the next couple of years,' said Steve Hill, CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. 'We're planning on this being a permanent race, we'll just keep planning extensions that will probably expand as we go forward.' The race is on the F1 calendar for the weekend before Thanksgiving in 2025 (November 22) and 2026 (November 21). According to Las Vegas figures, the 2024 event generated $934m (R16.76bn) in revenue and raised $45m (R807.61m) in taxes. The inaugural race, which includes parts of the famed Las Vegas Strip, took place in 2023. Max Verstappen won the initial Las Vegas GP for Red Bull Racing and Mercedes' George Russell finished atop the podium in 2024.
