By Brad Pitt dramatically “collapsed” on the Las Vegas Grand Prix track Saturday, but the incident was purely theatrical – part of filming for his upcoming Formula One movie scheduled for release in June 2025.
The 60-year-old actor, dressed in full racing gear, performed the staged faint while shooting a scene as fictional driver Sonny Hayes, stumbling away from a simulated crash before falling onto a padded mat held by crew members. The scene played out hours before the actual Grand Prix qualifying sessions, where George Russell would later secure pole position.
Adding to the production’s authenticity, Pitt’s fictional racing team, APXGP, even issued a mock medical statement: “During Qualifying, Sonny sustained a significant impact requiring immediate medical evaluation… While Sonny is otherwise stable, he will not participate in tomorrow’s race as he focuses on recovery.”
The Apple-backed production, which reportedly commanded a $130-140 million acquisition price before talent costs, features Pitt as a retired driver mentoring a younger teammate played by Damson Idris. The film, directed by “Top Gun: Maverick” helmer Joseph Kosinski, involves collaboration with Formula One, all ten F1 teams, the FIA, and race promoters.
“We’re shooting at actual Grand Prix events to capture the authentic atmosphere of Formula One,” said Kosinski. “The support from the racing community has been incredible.”
The production, which also counts F1 champion Lewis Hamilton among its producers, has been filming at races worldwide, including October’s Mexican Grand Prix. The cast includes Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, and Tobias Menzies, with filming scheduled to continue through December’s Abu Dhabi race.
A July trailer showcased Pitt’s character discussing team engineering details and featured high-speed racing footage set to Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” The film represents Hollywood’s most ambitious attempt to capture the world of Formula One since Ron Howard’s “Rush” in 2013.
