Brad Pitt has spent his summer starring in the biggest Formula 1 movie of all time, but according to McLaren boss Zak Brown, the Hollywood icon might not be done chasing speed just yet. After his headline-making role in F1: The Movie, Pitt’s enthusiasm for real-life racing appears to have left a strong impression on some of the sport’s top insiders.
The film, which sees Pitt portray a fictional F1 driver, had the actor and co-star Damson Idris driving modified Formula 2 cars for high-speed scenes shot at several real Grand Prix weekends. But Pitt’s commitment went far beyond the cameras.
The Oscar winner recently got behind the wheel of Lando Norris’s 2023 McLaren at Circuit of the Americas, taking to the famous Texas track alongside Martin Brundle. It was more than just a photo op: Brown says Pitt approached the experience like a real racing professional.
“He took it very seriously. He wanted to see his data, thoroughly enjoyed it,” Brown told Sky Sports F1, recalling the session. “I’ll tell you what, Brad was impressive… I wouldn’t be surprised, as we’ve seen with Patrick Dempsey, people get a taste of driving.
“And they, like Paul Newman said, he was a racing driver and a part-time actor, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Brad back out at some point.”
Pitt on an F1 high
While most movie stars would be satisfied playing an F1 hero on screen, Pitt admits the sensation of actually driving at race pace was “extraordinary” – and he wants more. Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, the 60-year-old confessed the high-speed thrill was almost addictive.
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“I got to hit 197mph this week. I really wanted to hit 200. You know, it hurts me a little bit—three miles per hour short on the straight. This was at Austin,” Pitt said.
Trying to put into words what it felt like, Pitt described an experience that “is such a unique feeling and an absolute high.” He went on: “I’ve just never experienced anything that’s just, more feeling of presence in my life. You’re so focused, but you’re not white knuckling.
“You’re just in this sublime groove. It is really extraordinary. I try to explain this feeling of downforce, and I fail every time because you try to say like a rollercoaster, but that’s not even right, because you feel the fulcrum point underneath you – you’re in it.”
The actor drew a parallel with flying in an aerobatic plane but said that even that “is the closest thing, but still this thing. I’m just still on a high. And I can’t thank Zak Brown and the team [enough]. I spent the day out with Lando—just what a high, what a high.”
Could Pitt Join Racing’s Hollywood Crossover Club?
Actors taking the leap into competitive racing is nothing new. Paul Newman famously became a successful racing driver, competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. More recently, Patrick Dempsey – best known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and on the big screen – has raced in both Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Zak Brown’s suggestion that Pitt could make a similar transition is not as far-fetched as it seems. The McLaren boss has already involved Pitt closely with the team and the sport.
Meanwhile, Formula 1’s popularity continues to skyrocket in the United States, thanks in part to the Netflix “Drive to Survive” phenomenon and now a blockbuster Hollywood production. If Pitt does decide to follow Dempsey’s path, he would surely attract a wave of new fans to motorsport.
For now, Pitt is still basking in the success of his movie, but his newfound passion for the real thing might yet push him from pit lane to starting grid.
