Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Brad Pitt... The world of F1 and Hollywood gathered in New York for the release of the film "F1"

When Hollywood meets the world of Formula 1... This Monday evening in New York, in the prestigious Times Square district, the premier category of motorsport had a rendezvous with all the most glamorous in Hollywood to celebrate the release of the film "F1", directed by Joseph Kosinski, to whom we owe the latest installment of "Top Gun" and, above all, co-produced by Lewis Hamilton.

Filming began in the summer of 2023 at the Silverstone circuit and took place alongside some of the season's Grand Prix races.

Filming to start at Silverstone in 2023

For the occasion, a fictional garage of the Apex team, which is central to the plot of the film produced by Apple and Jerry Bruckheimer, was set up on the pit straight, between those of Mercedes and Red Bull. Mercedes also modified a single-seater with the characteristics of an F2 car to redesign it into an F1 car that could blend into the pack.

Very few details about the plot were revealed at the time. Now, we know a little more.

Nicknamed "The Greatest," Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was Formula 1's most promising phenomenon of the 1990s until an on-track accident nearly ended his career.

Thirty years later, he has become a driver when he is contacted by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling Formula 1 team, APXGP, on the verge of bankruptcy.

Ruben convinces Sonny to return to Formula 1 for one last chance to save the team and become the best in the world. He'll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team's promising young driver, determined to set his own pace. But Sonny's past catches up with him, and he discovers that in Formula 1, his teammate is his biggest rival—and that the road to redemption isn't a solo one.

The American superstar benefited from the advice of seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is also a co-producer of the film.

"It's exciting to see the project take shape and that filming begins this weekend. Brad (Pitt) is a motorsport connoisseur, he also loves watching MotoGP, he's a car and motorcycle racing enthusiast," the Briton explained at the time.

Production, which began in the summer of 2023, was completed during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after nearly a month on site.

"F1" was produced in collaboration with Formula 1 and the entire F1 community - including Formula 1 management, the ten teams, the F1 drivers and the FIA.

This is how the various drivers were able to meet Brad Pitt in particular in a suit and helmet, during certain races.

"You seem to know more about this film than I do! For me, it doesn't change my plans, I'm staying focused on scoring points. And if I run into Brad Pitt, it will be a nice moment that I'll remember. But it doesn't change my approach for the weekend at all," declared Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine) during a press conference.

But most importantly, the film's star, Brad Pitt, trained to drive on the Castellet circuit in 2023, as we revealed at the time.

According to our information, he learned to drive on the track at very high speeds (up to 220 km/h) in a Formula 4 car. The goal was simple: to be as believable as possible during filming.

Having come from Correns as a neighbor, his "training" lasted several days before heading to Silverstone where several scenes and shots were taken during the various GPs of the season. Damson Idris also remembers the Hungarian GP perfectly .

"Max drives into the pits at full speed. He parks right next to me, slams the door and gets out of the car furious. I'm sitting there in my cockpit, making myself very small. You can't pretend when you're witnessing a moment like that," he told GQ.

As for filming on the various circuits, the 59-year-old actor clearly enjoyed his stay in England and was very enthusiastic about his foray into the world of F1.

"I'm having the best time of my life. It's really great to be here, we're having so much fun. Everyone has been great to us, the teams have opened their doors to us, the FIA ​​has helped us a lot, as has Formula One and Stefano Domenicali," the Hollywood star told Sky Sports F1.

Along with the film's director, Joseph Kosinski, the actor was even able to participate in the pre-race briefing with the drivers.

"It was probably the best briefing we've ever had," said seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is also a co-producer of the film.

"It was a bit surreal to spend time with a world star. But when you have the opportunity to meet Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt or Roger Federer, you realize that they are normal people. He joked a lot and seemed to be having a lot of fun. I can't wait to see what the film will be like," British driver George Russell also said.

Motorsport, a passion for some players

Of course, this isn't the first film to explore the world of motorsport. Steve McQueen, for example, had a profound impact on the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans... without actually being able to participate.

The actor, famous for his roles in "The Great Escape," "Bullitt" and "Papillon," had come to France to shoot sequences for a film called "Le Mans," directed by Lee H. Katzin.

He also hoped to compete in the event driving a Porsche 917 shared with British driver Jackie Stewart, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, which his insurance company categorically refused. A large portion of the film was shot in June 1970 during the 38th edition, thanks in particular to three cameras mounted in a Porsche 908 taking part in the event.

That year, he made numerous visits to La Sarthe: he took a seat in the Brabham F2 of Briton Derek Bell in July and met the five-time Argentine F1 world champion Juan Manuel Fangio in October.

A race that Brad Pitt had also started in 2016 with a short and now legendary phrase, in French: "Drivers, free the engines."

This 2016 edition had a very Hollywood feel, as several stars were present at Le Mans: Patrick Dempsey, Keanu Reeves, Jackie Chan and Jason Statham.

A few hours earlier, Pitt had completed a lap of the circuit in a Pescarolo prototype with Austrian driver Alexander Wurz, a two-time winner of the 24 Hours, to the delight of thousands of fans who were able to follow the scene on giant screens thanks to an onboard camera.

These days, it is probably Patrick Dempsey, recently seen in Monaco during the Grand Prix, who embodies this "passion" for motorsport.

Known worldwide for playing Dr. Derek Shepherd in the medical series "Grey's Anatomy," the American actor is a huge motorsport fan, so much so that he has owned his own team, Dempsey Racing, since 2002.

He has participated in what he considers "the greatest car race in the world" four times (2009, 2013, 2014, 2015), reaching the finish line each time.

His best result came in 2015 at the wheel of a Porsche 911 with a 2nd place in the LM GTE Am category and a 22nd overall.

In 2018, he even reached the top step of the podium as team boss with the victory of his Porsche 911 RSR driven by the Australian Matt Campbell, the German Christian Reid and the Frenchman Julien Andlauer.

Another legend to have dabbled in motor racing is actor Paul Newman, who only took part in one edition of the 24 Hours, in 1979, but he came close to winning at the age of 54!

At the height of his fame, the singer of "The Towering Inferno" and "The Sting", finished second overall and winner of his category at the wheel of a Porsche 935.

Newman, who discovered motorsport in 1968 during the filming of the movie "Virages" where he played a driver in the Indianapolis 500, did not go unnoticed in Sarthe: his photo in a red jumpsuit and sunglasses went around the world.

He created his own team in 1978 and joined forces with entrepreneur Carl Haas to found Newman/Haas Racing in 1983, which achieved numerous successes, including eight ChampCar titles, including four consecutive ones with Frenchman Sébastien Bourdais between 2004 and 2007.

In 1995, at the age of 70, he won the 24 Hours of Daytona in the GTS-1 class driving a Ford Mustang.

And as good news never comes alone, the Thai government officially approved this Tuesday a bid to organize its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in Bangkok from 2028.

A new GP in Asia?

The bid, which has an estimated total budget of €1 billion, including circuit development, would allow the Thai capital to host races from 2028 to 2032 - if it is accepted by the sport's governing body. The potential layout of Bangkok's street circuit has not yet been revealed, but government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub indicated that it could include an area near Chatuchak Market, north of the city , a popular destination for foreign tourists every weekend. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra hailed it as "a big step forward" on her X account at the end of May after meeting with F1 boss Stefano Domenicali on the sidelines of the Monaco GP.

Currently, only one Formula 1 race is held in Southeast Asia, in Singapore. Malaysia was dropped from the program in 2017, and Covid-19 caused the cancellation of what was to be the inaugural Vietnam GP in 2020.