Brad Pitt respects F1 and thrills drivers at Silverstone

AFP | London                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Brad Pitt was full of praise and respect for Formula One and, in particular, the drivers yesterday after spending the weekend in their company for filming at the British Grand Prix.

The Hollywood film star told Sky Sports F1 that the paddock and sport as a whole had welcomed and embraced the as yet unnamed Apple-supported F1 film project in which he is starring.

“I’m having the time of my life,” he said, having raced around the track himself. “I’m a little giddy right now! It’s great to be here. We’re having such a laugh. It’s the time of my life. “To be a part of it in this way? To tell our story?

Everyone has been cool with us, the teams have opened their doors to us, the FIA have been really helpful, F1 and Stefano Domenicali. Everyone has been amazing.” And he received a warm reception from the drivers when he and director Joseph Kosinski joined the drivers’ briefing ahead of the race.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, who is an executive producer for the film, said it was “probably the best drivers’ briefing we’ve ever had.” In the film, Pitt plays a veteran driver who joins an F1 team represented at Silverstone by a fictional 11th team on the grid, complete with a garage and pitbay alongside Ferrari.

Using Formula Two cars converted by Mercedes, the ‘film cars’ took places on the grid for the race and ran in part of the formation lap before the start of the Grand Prix. They were driven by former drivers Craig Dolby and Luciano Bachetta.