Brad Pitt, the lead actor in the recently released F1 movie, disclosed a brief but memorable exchange with McLaren driver Lando Norris while filming. During his preparation in early 2024, Pitt received a succinct piece of
“Lando Norris advice to Brad Pitt”
before getting behind the wheel of the McLaren 2023 F1 car.
As part of his training to embody the film’s high-speed racing scenes authentically, Pitt spent time driving the McLaren MCL60 with Norris present. The British F1 driver’s advice came during these sessions, which Pitt later recounted in an interview with BBC Radio 1.
Conversations Behind the Scenes: Speed and Encouragement
Pitt recalled that Norris first asked him if he had managed to reach 200 miles per hour while driving the McLaren car. The actor admitted he fell short by about three miles per hour, describing the experience as an intense and thrilling high.
“He [Lando Norris] asked me if I hit 200 miles an hour.”
—Brad Pitt, Actor
“It was Lando’s 23, yeah. And I did not sleep for 36 hours afterwards, I was on such a high,”
—Brad Pitt, Actor
When questioned about the advice Norris gave him before the driving sessions, Pitt disclosed that the F1 star was both skeptical and blunt in his assessment of Pitt’s driving skills, which led to a brief but impactful message.
“He didn’t have a lot of faith in me. Fair enough. Like the time I put up still wasn’t even close to his. No.”
—Brad Pitt, Actor
Ultimately, Norris’s succinct counsel was summed up in four words:
“Don’t c*ck it up.”
Brad Pitt’s Racing Passion Aided His Role, Including Driving Norris’ Car
Brad Pitt revealed that his personal passion for racing helped him immensely in his role as Sonny Hayes, the film’s protagonist who transforms from a New York City cab driver to a professional gambler immersed in racing culture. Pitt’s enthusiasm for motorsport stretches back to his childhood, and it remains a lifelong influence.
“I’ve always loved racing. I grew up with Jackie Stewart [racing in F1 as] some of my earliest memories. In the ’90s I really got heavily into MotoGP. Then I started veering into F1, and here we are.
—Brad Pitt, Actor
“I’ve been trying to get a racing movie done for 20 years. I’ve tried bikes, I’ve tried cars, I’ve tried different disciplines, and for whatever reason they never came to fruition.”
—Brad Pitt, Actor
The F1 movie, produced by Apple Productions and directed by Joseph Kosinski, features a strong cast including Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem. Accompanied by a soundtrack from Hans Zimmer, the film recently premiered in Times Square, New York City, drawing celebrities from Hollywood and the motorsport world.
Impact of the Meeting Between Hollywood and F1
The interaction between Brad Pitt and Lando Norris represents a unique convergence of Hollywood and Formula 1, underscoring the cinematic effort to capture authentic racing culture. Norris’s brief but direct advice highlights the pressure and adrenaline tied to racing at elite levels, mirrored by Pitt’s dedication to realism.
Looking ahead, the film’s release is expected to further popularize F1 racing in mainstream culture, introducing new audiences to the sport’s speed and intensity. Pitt’s connection to racing, enriched by encounters with drivers like Norris, strengthens the movie‘s credibility and appeal among fans of both cinema and motorsport.