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Brad Pitt Secretly Tests Real F1 Car at COTA for Upcoming Movie

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 4:15 PM ET

Brad Pitt has taken method acting to the next level—by secretly testing a real Formula 1 car with McLaren at the Circuit of the Americas.

The 61-year-old Hollywood star, who plays fictional former F1 driver Sonny Hayes in the upcoming F1 Movie, was given the rare opportunity to drive a McLaren MCL60, the team’s 2023 challenger. The test took place at COTA, the home of the United States Grand Prix, and saw Pitt join current McLaren driver Lando Norris at the venue.

Filming for the movie has already taken place during actual F1 race weekends, with Pitt previously piloting a modified Formula 1 car in front of live crowds. But this new test was his first experience in full-blown Formula 1 machinery.

McLaren confirmed that the test happened but withheld further details. The team teased the moment on social media by posting a photo of race overalls with the initials “BP,” accomplished by the caption: “It’s a Sonny day in Austin” a nod to Pitt’s character.

The test followed Monday’s high-profile New York City premiere of the F1 Movie, co-produced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Pitt spoke about how surreal the experience has been.

“Can you believe they even let us in?” Pitt said. “Let us in the world. Let us have race weekends. Let us embed ourselves into the season. I’ve just never heard of anything like it.”

Brad Pitt has been handed his debut in an F1 car this week thanks to McLaren

The actor, who spent two years filming in an F2 car for the movie, was given the opportunity to drive the 2023 MCL60 around COTA pic.twitter.com/Biot6afUlA
— Autosport (@autosport) June 20, 2025

Pitt credited Hamilton with helping keep the film grounded in reality. “We just drew from history… and we had Lewis Hamilton keep us straight,” he added. “I think it wins on so many levels.”

With the film set to release internationally on June 27, the buzz around Pitt’s real-life F1 test is only fueling anticipation.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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