How Brad Pitt and Damson Idris prepared to drive the APXGP cars in the "F1" movie

Brad Pitt and Damson Idris were really driving in the APXGP cars during the F1 movie, and Apple has now shared a glimpse into how the actors prepared for the physical element of their roles.

F1 follows nomadic driver Sonny Hayes (Pitt) as he returns to Formula 1 to help the struggling APXGP team, alongside rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Idris). 

The film was shot during real-life race weekends with Pitt and Idris driving modified Formula 2 cars in the APXGP livery. "Brad and Damson have genuinely, hand on heart, been driving quicker than any near-normal human being will ever, ever get to drive," Craig Dolby, additional sequence choreographer on F1 said in the behind-the-scenes video shared by Apple.

"Started and just taught them the basics. You know, how to actually get around a lap, get them comfortable, get them consistent in doing high speeds. After that, we started bringing cars in closer to them, get them to look where they need to be looking.

"Driving with Damson Idris has been amazing from word go. How he's pushed boundaries has been pretty impressive to see."

Pitt has long been interested in motorsport, with his love beginning with dirt bikes.

"I started up as a kid, like dirt bikes and really got heavily into MotoGP, and then I started veering into F1, and then, now here we are," the Hollywood star told Will Buxton in the same video.

Pitt's co-star Idris added that he put time into the simulator when he was vying for the role. "I went on to simulators before any audition. I even created a character on the F1 game and like named him Joshua Pearce. I definitely manifested this."

The two actors had to take on an intense workout regimen to be able to handle the physicality of the role.

"Brad trained for three months along with Damson to be able to drive the cars, and they both are phenomenal athletes," said producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

Cast and stunts physio Barry Sigrist added: "Every time Damson gets in the car, he’s going to be driving insanely quick. Doing that over a serious amount of laps, it's been really important for us to condition his neck.

"There's a slightly different focus between Brad and Damson. Brad has much more of a mobility component to that, but then we still wake up the areas that we really need to. The mid-back area, around the back of his shoulders, abdominals, and his neck."