At the 2023 British Grand Prix, standing between F1 champion Max Verstappen and Hollywood star Brad Pitt, actor Damson Idris experienced a surreal moment. He recalled needing to switch from being Damson Idris, the fan who once raced as Lewis Hamilton on PlayStation, to embodying his fictional character, rookie racer Joshua Pearce.
As the national anthem concluded, Idris walked back down the grid towards the fictional black-and-gold APX GP car. Navigating around real F1 mechanics and cars just minutes before the actual race start, Idris and Pitt were filmed from two angles for a critical scene. With no opportunity for a second take, they had to execute it flawlessly.
Idris described the intense pressure, likening it to a theatrical performance. He saw Pitt fully immersed in his role as Sonny Hayes and realized he needed to stop “freaking out” and act, especially as “We Will Rock You” began playing over the loudspeakers. He feels this specific moment captured on film will be a truly special part of the movie, one that will “stand the test of time.”
The film, titled `F1,` is scheduled for a June release. It centers on the story of Pearce and Hayes as they compete for APX GP, a struggling team near collapse during the 2023 F1 season. Brad Pitt portrays Hayes, an aging but determined racer given a final opportunity by team principal Ruben Cervantes (played by Javier Bardem). Idris plays Pearce, a promising British rookie making his debut in the sport.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joseph Kosinski, known for their work on `Top Gun: Maverick,` committed to capturing realistic racing action without relying on green screen. They filmed real-world stunts using actual cars at racing speeds during Grand Prix weekends. Pitt and Idris drove modified Formula 2 cars, specially adapted by the Mercedes F1 team to blend in with the F1 grid. The fictional APX GP team was allocated its own garage and pit wall at several races in 2023 and 2024, getting 15-minute track sessions for filming between real F1 practice and qualifying.
With movie-quality cameras placed inside the cockpits, audiences will reportedly see close-ups, like Idris`s eyes through his visor, during the film`s most intense driving scenes. This presented a unique challenge and opportunity for Idris, who had no prior racing experience before this project.
Idris recounted his initial meeting with director Kosinski and producer Bruckheimer around 2022. He asked if the driving would be authentic, like the flying in `Top Gun: Maverick,` and was told yes, which he admits left him “petrified.” He credits the rigorous training with teaching him that “there`s nothing no one on this earth can`t learn.” Driving the cars at speeds sometimes reaching 180 miles per hour was, he said, “the most exhilarating feeling in the world.”
To ensure the driving scenes were both safe and realistic, Idris and Pitt underwent extensive driver coaching before filming began. Lewis Hamilton, who serves as an executive producer on the film, participated in an early track day at Silverstone, driving various cars as the actors built their skills in the F2 machines.
Although not as quick as modern F1 cars, the modified APX GP vehicles were still extremely fast. Real-life racers Luciano Bacheta (the 2012 Formula 2 champion) and Craig Dolby occasionally filled in for Idris and Pitt during more challenging stunts, including the actual formation lap at Silverstone after the national anthem scene. They also worked alongside Hamilton, offering continuous advice to the actors.
`Lewis was there all the time giving us pointers,` Idris said. He also highlighted the dedication of Bacheta and Dolby, who were with them daily, teaching them how to navigate the track efficiently and quickly. `I`m indebted to those guys,` he added, emphasizing that both he and Brad Pitt “put everything into this.”
`My favorite track is probably Austin, Texas,` Idris shared, explaining that he had a dramatic spin there during training. He found the unscripted moment “amazing, so fun,” and joked that director Joe Kosinski might have wanted to use it if cameras had been rolling.
A natural question arises after months of training and laps: Who was the faster driver, the 33-year-old Idris or the 61-year-old Pitt?
`I`m always going to say me,` Idris responded with a smile, adding, `I have to because I know he`s going to say him.`
However, he acknowledged Pitt`s impressive speed and particular skill with the clutch, noting it likely stems from his experience riding motorcycles. Idris humorously recalled sometimes stalling the car trying to leave the garage, while Pitt could “rip it out.” But on the track itself, he concluded, “we both have the same amount of fun.”
Brad Pitt`s global superstar status is undoubtedly a significant draw for viewers beyond the F1 fanbase. While filming at races, it was common for F1 team members, journalists, and even drivers to try and catch a glimpse of the Hollywood icon.
`I was his security guard for 20 months,` Idris quipped when asked about working with Pitt. More seriously, he described Pitt as “just the GOAT. He is just a walking monument.”
Idris praised Pitt as “fantastic, so humble,” stating that his demeanor proves “no one has the right to be arrogant, really.” He called Pitt the “ultimate star and collaborator,” emphasizing how Pitt constantly aimed to help him shine in the movie. `Anytime Joshua shines, it`s because of Brad. He gave me that space,` Idris said. He added that Pitt taught him, “as a human being and as an artist, as long as you put your mind to something and you focus and stay motivated, there`s nothing you can`t accomplish.”
While trailers have offered a glimpse, the exact plot details remain a closely guarded secret, and Idris was unable to comment on his character`s specific storyline. However, he offered an interesting comparison when asked to relate Joshua Pearce to current F1 drivers.
`I`m watching the new season of `Drive to Survive,“ Idris said, `and with Oscar Piastri… I love the dynamic of last season and how they said to Lando [Norris], `You`re going to be the main driver,` and Oscar was talented but had a bit to learn.` Idris sees a parallel with his character, Joshua Pearce, even though APX is a backmarker team unlike McLaren.
`He`s a rookie like any other who`s just really trying to prove himself to the sport,` Idris explained. Joshua has fought hard to reach his position in Formula 1, a sport with only a limited number of spots (20 drivers, or 22 including APX). `So, Joshua is the epitome of any young athlete who`s trying to find his way to prove himself to the world,` Idris concluded, citing footballer Lamine Yamal as a character who also inspired him while playing the part.
For Idris personally, the experience of filming the movie has ignited a genuine passion for racing. Noting that Hollywood actors like Patrick Dempsey and Michael Fassbender have competed in real motorsport events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Idris expressed a strong desire to race in the future. `A hundred percent,` he affirmed.
He even revealed that a team principal offered to pay for some lessons. Idris shared his ambition for a potential charity race, where he could compete against fellow actors like Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Patrick Dempsey, and Nicholas Hoult, and perhaps even throw in some real Formula 1 drivers “to see who`s the quickest.”
Director Kosinski has indicated that the final cut will feature numerous cameos from current members of the F1 grid, including both planned and unplanned appearances during filming.
Achieving authenticity in racing films while creating a script that appeals beyond dedicated fans is always a challenge. For Idris, the ultimate test of the movie`s success will be the reaction of the F1 drivers themselves after the early preview screenings planned for this year`s Canadian Grand Prix.
`What I will say about the drivers is they were so accommodating to me and Brad,` Idris added. `It made us feel like we were a part of the crew.` He emphasized his eagerness to see their response, stating, `They`re the people I really want to please.`
Dominic Ashworth