The premiere of the upcoming F1 movie, starring Brad Pitt, saw an unexpected and lighthearted interruption as Mercedes driver George Russell crashed Pitt's interview on the red carpet in New York City. The event, held shortly after the Canadian Grand Prix, brought together a host of F1 stars, team principals, and celebrities to celebrate the soon-to-be-released film.
Brad Pitt, the lead actor in the movie, was in the middle of an interview with Sky Sports F1 when Russell approached him. The 27-year-old British driver, fresh off his victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, greeted Pitt with a warm hug and enthusiastic congratulations. "Hold on, I'm sorry," Pitt said to the interviewer, before embracing Russell. "But what a weekend, dude! Great drive. Oh, that was so fun to watch!"
Russell, who secured his first win of the 2025 season in Montreal, also pointed out the matching "salmon" colored shirts that he and Pitt were wearing, adding to the jovial atmosphere. The surprise interaction highlighted the close relationship that has developed between Hollywood and Formula 1 during the making of the film.
Pitt, visibly delighted by Russell's appearance, responded, "Can you believe they even let us in [to F1]? It's insane! They let us in the world, let us in race weekends, let us embed ourselves in the season. I've just never heard anything like it. Especially this sport, it's so revered." He also acknowledged the contribution of Lewis Hamilton, who is co-producing the film, stating, "We just drew from history, you know, a little of this, a little of that, and then we had Lewis Hamilton to keep us straight."
The F1 movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski of "Top Gun: Maverick" fame and featuring music by Hans Zimmer, is slated for release on June 27, 2025. The film aims to provide an authentic and thrilling portrayal of the world of Formula 1, with Pitt playing a veteran driver named Sonny Hayes who returns to the sport to mentor a young rookie, Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris.
The movie has been granted unprecedented access to the F1 world and filmed during actual race weekends. Brad Pitt and Damson Idris even tested F2 and F3 cars at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France as part of their preparation. George Russell, who attended a private screening of the film in Monaco, praised its authenticity. "The F1 movie is really going to showcase that so well. It's got so much drama," Russell said earlier this year. He recounted seeing Pitt and Idris on the grid at Silverstone a couple of years ago, blending in with the other drivers.
The star-studded premiere in New York included appearances from numerous F1 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc. The event featured a faux starting grid in Times Square, complete with F1 cars, creating a spectacle for fans and attendees alike. The incident with Russell gatecrashing the interview added an unplanned, spontaneous moment to the premiere, showcasing the excitement surrounding the film and the camaraderie between the F1 community and the Hollywood cast and crew.
