Brad Pitt: becoming Sonny Hayes for F1: The Movie

F1: Beyond The Grid

karenellenbevan

Leisure, Sports, Technology, Automotive

4.8 • 5.2K Ratings

🗓️ 24 June 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For F1: The Movie, Brad Pitt lived the high-speed life of a Formula 1 driver. He drove with seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. He learned to race. He spent years shooting scenes at racetracks around the world.

The result is what he calls ‘the most visceral feeling you will get in a race car of anything put on film’ - F1: The Movie, in cinemas on June 25th and June 27th in North America.

Brad Pitt tells Tom Clarkson about making the movie, the ‘adrenaline’ he felt driving on spectacular Formula 1 circuits, what he learned from his time with Lewis Hamilton and how getting close to F1 cars and drivers took his breath away.

Plus, he reveals the true F1 stories which inspired the character of Sonny Hayes, describes the feeling of driving a real F1 car, and hints at his hopes for a sequel.

F1: The Movie – in cinemas June 25th internationally, June 27th in North America
Find a screening near you at f1themovie.com

It's All To Drive For in 2025. Be there!
Book your seat for a Grand Prix this season at tickets.formula1.com

This episode is sponsored by:

Ridge - improving the things you carry every day
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Transcript

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0:00.0	For F1, the movie, Brad Pitt didn't just play a Formula One driver.
0:10.8	He became one.
0:12.2	You're flat out down the straight.
0:13.6	You're at 180 and there's a brick wall in front of you.
0:17.1	And really trusting these brakes, you know, trusting the car.
0:19.9	That first month, it was just my mantra, trust the car, trust the car, trust the car,
0:23.5	push, push, push more.
0:25.2	To make the most authentic racing movie ever, he got up close and personal with the sport, the drivers, and the cars.
0:33.9	It's such an audacious idea and I can't think of any other film that's ever happened to allow us to embed ourselves into the racing season is something pretty extraordinary
0:44.3	We went to the base of O'Rouge and the cars come right by the wall
0:48.3	It literally sucks the air out of your lungs. It is unbelievable.
1:00.9	I'm Tom Clarkson, and here on F1 Beyond the Grid, Brad Pitt tells me how he became his character, Sunny Hayes, a driver given a second chance at racing in F1.
1:13.6	Brad talks about his love of racing and the adrenaline he felt shooting scenes on the F1 starting grid,
1:20.6	or driving, actually driving, in front of hundreds of thousands of people at racetracks around the world.
1:31.0	You'll hear the true F1 stories which inspired the movie,
1:37.5	and how producer Lewis Hamilton was integral in making it look, sound and feel authentic.
1:44.0	Plus, the insane top speed that Brad hit while driving a real McLaren Formula One car.
1:50.7	F1 The Movie is in cinemas from Wednesday the 25th of June or Friday the 27th in North America and you can find screenings near you at F1Themovie.com.
1:55.6	I sat down with Brad Pitt before the European premiere in London.
1:59.8	I hope you enjoy our conversation.
2:05.4	Brad, welcome to the show.
2:06.8	Delighted to be here.
	...

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