Lewis Hamilton shares new development in Brad Pitt’s F1 movie

Lewis Hamilton has not ruled out playing a “small cameo” in the upcoming Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt, but was quick to add that it is not currently in the plan for the film.

The seven-time World Champion is involved in the film’s production in a co-producer/consultancy role and revealed he has also been a part of the casting process, helping decide who should be involved in the movie as it is made.

Alongside that, he said that the team behind the film met in London during the cancelled Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend to run through the script in full as it stood – and with the Mercedes driver not being on track – he was able to join and see how things were going.

Joseph Kosinski, director of the recent hit Top Gun: Maverick, will also be behind the camera for this as-yet-unnamed film, with Pitt set to play the lead role.

Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz revealed over the weekend that the story would be based around a fictional Formula 1 team named Apex Racing, which will feature footage interspersed with real-life F1 teams and it has been known for several weeks Pitt himself is due to take to the track at Silverstone in July for filming purposes, potentially in a customised F2 or F3 chassis.

As for Hamilton, he was thrilled to be able to see how the film has been progressing of late.

“We’re going to have an amazing cast,” the Mercedes driver told reporters in Monaco.

“I mean, it’s such a privilege and an incredible opportunity to sit [in]. One of the things we actually did on Saturday, because obviously we weren’t racing, we spent the whole day going through the script in London.

“So just to be able to sit there with Joe [Kosinski, director] and Jerry [Bruckheimer, producer], who are such legends, and then sit there and watch Brad work, I’m learning so much through the process and have even more of an appreciation for what it takes to create a movie – and I’m sure that will continue to grow as I see this thing slowly grow and build into the special thing I think we’re working on.

“Recruitment’s going great, and I get to see all those videos come through of people auditioning for the roles and I get to be a part of the decision making of who we choose and who we like and who we know is most suited [for parts] and not.”

PlanetF1.com recommends

Ted Kravitz unveils key new information on Lewis Hamilton-linked Brad Pitt F1 film

Brad Pitt F1 movie: Cast, release date, Lewis Hamilton involvement and more

As for Hamilton’s own role within the film, he said he is enjoying his work behind the scenes at the moment and, despite having featured as an animated version of himself in Disney Pixar’s Cars 2 previously, he does not yet fancy taking on a full part in the upcoming movie.

That said, he did not fully rule out the possibility of appearing at some point, though that is not currently in the works.

“If I’m really honest, I don’t really have any desire to be in front of the camera, but there may be an element in it where maybe I’ll end up playing a small cameo, but at the moment that’s not in the plan,” Hamilton said.

“I’m more enjoying the part in the background and making sure that I’m really talking to Joe about who we’re hiring and making sure that it’s diverse, making sure that the sport looks how it’s supposed to look in the future in terms of being more accessible.

“So I wait for my proper movie debut later on because I’m going to need to train and practice because I don’t want to suck at it.

“For sure, if Top Gun 3 ever happens, I’m going to be in it and I will miss the race for it, just so you know. I’m not gonna give up that chance next time!”