Brad Pitt reveals the pressure of filming the "F1" movie during a race weekend: "Hallowed ground"

Apple has published a behind-the-scenes feature of the making of the F1 movie at Silverstone Circuit. This follows its global streaming debut on Apple TV on 12 December. Diving into the details of how the production filmed its time at the legendary British track, it shows the excitement of the team as they filmed during the grand prix weekend.

Brad Pitt, starring in the movie as driver Sonny Hayes, explained how he felt as he stepped out in front of the Silverstone crowds in what was his first day on set. 

“My first moment of filming is at Silverstone - race weekend in front of 120,000 fans. It was just surreal. It’s absolutely surreal.”

Damson Idris, starring alongside the American actor as young racing driver Joshua Pearce, added: "To just see that, we knew we would create something that’s going to stand the test of time."

Joseph Kosinski directed the hugely successful movie after coming off an equally successful Top Gun: Maverick. By inserting his production into the real world of Formula 1 with unmatched levels of access granted to the team by the championship and the FIA, he was able to bring a level of energy and immersion that was previously unheard of in other racing movies.

“Silverstone is where the first Formula 1 race is held and it has all this history,” he said. "There’s no way we could have made this film without the tight partnership with Formula 1. Without the access we had, there’s no way we could have pulled these scenes off. The access to the races, the access to the track, you know, we were able to shoot during the national anthem, standing next to the drivers.”

“I remember just feeling like we’re on hallowed ground," Pitt added. "We are stepping into a sport that is so revered, and we just wanted to make sure we didn’t get in anyone’s way.”

Filming took place within live race weekends, leaving little room for error as the team was tasked with completing successful stints of production within the short timeframes they were given. 

F1 Movie scene

Photo by: Apple

“We had to prove to F1 that we could slot ourselves into the race weekend without cocking up their programming, because it is military precision, it is to the minute,” Pitt explained. "So there's a lot of pressure just to get it right."

Both Pitt and Idris lined up alongside the 20 drivers of the grid as the national anthem was played across the circuit ahead of the race. With just one take available, it had to be perfect. 

"I had Brad on my left and Verstappen on my right," Idris said of the moment. "And I remember asking him: 'When you guys sing the national anthem, do you put the race suit up or do you have it down - what do you do?'" he continued, reliving the stress waiting for the cameras to roll. "And he was like 'either's fine, it's okay, it's fine.'"

It was a successful weekend of filming for Kosinski and his team.

"It was definitely one of the most intense days I've ever had on a film set," he said. "But the energy of the crowd, the cars, standing next to all the F1 drivers and then having Damson and Brad there with them... that was one of those moments I'll never forget."