Brad Pitt Hints F1 Movie Draws from Sport’s Controversial Past
Brad Pitt, set to star as veteran racer Sonny Hayes in the highly anticipated Formula 1 film, has revealed that the movie’s storyline takes significant inspiration from real-life, infamous incidents within the sport’s rich history. Specifically, Pitt pointed to the controversial 2008 ‘Crashgate’ scandal as a key source for plot elements.
Speaking about the film’s creative process, Pitt indicated that the team behind the movie approached the project with deep respect for F1 and intentionally drew from various historical events, citing examples from the 1994 and 2008 seasons. He directly alluded to the Renault ‘Crashgate’ incident as particularly influential.
The Shadow of ‘Crashgate’
The 2008 ‘Crashgate’ scandal at the Singapore Grand Prix involved Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. allegedly deliberately crashing his car on team orders to trigger a safety car period. This strategic maneuver was designed to benefit his teammate, Fernando Alonso, who subsequently won the race. The fallout led to severe penalties for key Renault personnel, including a lifetime ban for team boss Flavio Briatore (later overturned).
In the film, plot points mirror this controversy, depicting Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, seemingly making intentional errors on track that cause safety car deployments. These incidents are shown to benefit his younger teammate, Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris.
Pitt drew a parallel between his character’s situation and real-life scenarios, mentioning they looked “respectfully” at figures like Fernando Alonso as examples. He described Sonny Hayes starting in a struggling back-marker team that feels compelled to “play with the rules” and push “right to the edge” to become competitive, initially making the character unpopular.
Pushing Limits, Not Portraying Cheating
While the plot bears a striking resemblance to ‘Crashgate’ and depicts questionable tactics, the filmmakers have clarified their intent. Director Joe Kosinski stated the goal was not to portray outright cheating but rather to explore how far a driver might push the limits – “to get right to the edge” – without necessarily crossing the line into illegality. He also noted incorporating subtle references to the on-track tendencies of real drivers, like Kevin Magnussen’s defensive driving style.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Director Kosinski emphasized the critical role of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who served as a co-producer. Hamilton was instrumental in ensuring the authenticity of the racing sequences and “kept them honest” during script development, reportedly signing off on all on-track action.
While hardcore F1 fans and journalists might spot these historical references and potentially question the portrayal of unsportsmanlike behaviour, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali offered a different perspective for the broader audience. He suggested that viewers less familiar with motorsport would likely perceive these actions as “racing action and authentic fighting” rather than cheating, finding the story compelling nonetheless.
Pitt’s Immersion: Driving a Real F1 Car
Adding to his commitment to the role and the sport’s authenticity, Brad Pitt recently had the opportunity to drive a genuine Formula 1 car himself. He got behind the wheel of Lando Norris’ 2023 McLaren at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) as part of a special testing program.
Reflecting on this experience, which is distinct from driving the adapted F2 cars used for filming, the 61-year-old actor described the feeling as incredibly intense and requiring immense focus – a “sublime groove.” He set a personal goal of reaching 200 mph on the straight, ultimately hitting 197 mph and expressing a keen desire to return to the track to improve his performance. This hands-on experience undoubtedly provided Pitt with a deeper understanding of the high-stakes world depicted in the film.
The upcoming ‘F1: The Movie’ aims to immerse viewers deeply into the sport, featuring appearances from current drivers and all 2024 teams, promising a blend of historical nods and authentic racing portrayal.
