Brad Pitt speaks after Max Verstappen hit out over movie star at British GP

Brad Pitt has spoken about his joy at making a new F1 film, describing it as “the best time of my life”. The Hollywood superstar was at Silverstone at the weekend, shooting race scenes for the unnamed movie which could be called ‘Apex’. Not everyone on the British Grand Prix grid, namely Max Verstappen, was particularly happy with Pitt being there though.

Pitt’s presence saw scenes shot including him driving a specially adapted F2 car in between the real-life race sessions. Sky Sports grid reporter and former F1 driver Martin Brundle caught up with Pitt in the production crew’s dedicated pit lane garage to see what he made of it all.

Pitt to Brundle: “I’m a little giddy right now, I’ve got to say. And it’s just great to be here, man. We’re just having such a laugh, such a laugh. It’s the best time of my life.

“Listen, it’s all been great. I mean, the vibe is amazing, you know that, but just to get to be a part of it in this way, and get to tell our story, and everyone’s been really cool with us.

“All the teams have opened their doors for us, the FIA, Mohammad [Ben Sulayem] has been really helpful. And F1 Stefano [Domenicali], everyone has just been really, really amazing, that we can do this. And it’s going to be really good.”

In the film, Pitt plays a retired racing driver who is recalled by his friend – the owner of a low-performing F1 team – to help nurture the talents of a young prodigy.

“I would be a guy who raced in the nineties,” he told Brundle. “In fact, I would have been on the track with you at some point!

“He has a horrible crash, kind of craps out and disappears and then is racing in other disciplines. And then his friend played by Javier Bardem is a team owner.

“They’re a last place team, they’re 21 and 22 on the grid, they’ve never scored a point. And they have a young phenom played by Damson Idris. And he brings me in as a kind of a Hail Mary. And hijinks ensue.”

The presence of Pitt, Idris and the Hollywood film crew appeared to have been well received by the F1 circus at Silverstone, with Lewis Hamilton describing the drivers’ briefing, which the US actor attended, as “probably the best drivers’ briefing we’ve ever had”.

But not everyone was so fussed about the presence of movie royalty at the British track. Championship leader and reigning world champion Verstappen did not appear too fussed about the sideshow on race day.

The Dutchman, who won the race after beating Brits Lando Norris and Hamilton, said: “I think they’re going to use some shots of everybody, in terms of onboard cameras and stuff.

“I completely can’t be bothered with this. In the end, a film is always made to create a little bit of a show in it. Because yes, of course, it won’t all be real. But I think it’s all fine. I’m actually not that much into it.”