Brad Pitt is taking over Formula One at this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The Hollywood star is making a movie called Apex, which is centred around the F1 world and filming is set to begin at the iconic Silverstone circuit.
Pitt is set to star in the movie produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Joseph Kosinski, the team behind Top Gun: Maverick.
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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has also been heavily involved in the project, including working on the film’s script.
Pitt, Bruckheimer and Kosinski were spotted at last year’s United States Grand Prix in Texas, chatting to different F1 teams as part of the preliminary research stage for the movie.
But now it’s getting serious, with images emerging of a garage at the Silverstone track that has been built specifically for Pitt in amongst the other teams.
An image of Pitt appears above the garage, next to the name Sonny Hayes, the character he will be playing, with the team’s other driver Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris.
Pitt is driving for the fictional ‘Apex Racing’ team, which is using modified Formula 2 cars that have been modified by Mercedes to make them look like F1 cars.
Filming will take place during gaps in the F1 race weekend, so fans shouldn’t expect to see Pitt racing alongside Max Verstappen.
Pitt’s acceptance into the world of F1 makes it easy to forget he snubbed legendary commentator Martin Brundle on a grid walk last year.
Details about the movie’s plot are scarce, but it’s believed Pitt is playing a veteran driver who comes out of retirement to help a younger teammate.
It’s unlikely Hamilton will have a major on-screen role, with the seven-time world champion preferring to do his work behind the scenes.
“I don’t really have any desire to be in front of the camera, but there may be an element in it where maybe I’ll slot in and play a small cameo, but at the moment that’s not the plan,” Hamilton told Sky Sports in Monaco.
“I’m more enjoying the part in the background, making sure that I’m really talking to Joe about who we’re hiring, making sure that it’s diverse, making sure that the sport looks how it’s supposed to look in the future, in terms of being more accessible.”
The British Grand Prix takes place on Sunday night at 11pm AEST.
Tune into Fox Sports and Speedcafe’s new F1 vodcast ‘Pit Talk’ wherever you get your podcasts.
