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Lewis Hamilton Scared Brad Pitt to Death on a Racetrack and Sealed the Deal

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated May 29, 2025 10:27 AM ET

Brad Pitt may be starring as a Formula 1 driver in the upcoming Apple-backed film, but before he earned his seat, he had to pass one high-speed test — from none other than Lewis Hamilton.

As revealed in a GQ Italia feature, it was late 2021 when director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer approached Hamilton at the exclusive San Vicente Bungalows in Los Angeles.

The duo, riding high on the success of Top Gun: Maverick, wanted Hamilton to join their new F1 film not just as a consultant, but as a creative force to bring authenticity and access to a notoriously guarded sport.

Apple stepped in to finance the project — but only after a bold plan was formed: Pitt’s fictional team, APXGP, would actually join the F1 grid. The crew would travel to real races with their own garage, paddock, and car, shooting on live circuits with real teams in the background. Even podiums weren’t off-limits.

But before the camera could roll, Hamilton needed to know: could Brad actually drive?

In early 2022, the seven-time world champion met Pitt and Kosinski at the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles. Pitt took a few fast laps in a 911 GT3, but Hamilton had something more intense in mind. He strapped Pitt in for a ride and floored it — especially through one vicious elevated corner described by Kosinski as a “turn of death.” What happened next could have come straight from a movie.

“They disappeared and I only saw a cloud of dust,” the director recalled. “Then they came back, the door opened wide, and Brad jumped out all sweaty, while Lewis had a huge smile on his face.”

This is F1. Starring Brad Pitt.

In cinemas Summer 2025.#F1 #F1Movie pic.twitter.com/YQHvqNs5Ir
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 7, 2024

The message was clear: This is what it feels like to dance on the edge. Hamilton wasn’t just giving Pitt a thrill — he was initiating him into the brutal, beautiful world of real Formula 1.

From that moment, Pitt was all in. Soon after, the trio flew to London to pitch F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. To seal the deal, Kosinski even hosted a private IMAX screening of Top Gun: Maverick — months before it hit theatres. It worked. F1 gave them the green light.

Now, with the film set to release on 27 June 2025, it’s clear: this isn’t just another racing movie. It’s a story that started with sweat, speed, and Hamilton’s perfectly timed scare.

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

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