Could Brad Pitt’s upcoming ‘F1’ film bring fans to the sport for the wrong reasons? Jacques Villeneuve thinks so.
- The film stars Brad Pitt as retired racer Sonny Hayes and features real F1 drivers.
- Villeneuve believes the movie might attract viewers who don’t understand F1.
- Filming during real F1 race weekends makes this project unique.
- F1 president Stefano Domenicali expects the film’s impact to surpass Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive’.
Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ film is set for release on June 25, 2025, internationally and on June 27 in the United States. The movie features Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a retired driver who returns to mentor Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris. Filming took place during actual F1 race weekends, adding an authentic touch with real F1 drivers in the movie.
Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 World Champion, expressed concerns that the film will bring excitement but not from genuine racing fans. “The F1 film can bring a lot of fans, but that doesn’t make them race fans,” he said. Villeneuve highlighted that watching a movie doesn’t equate to understanding the complexities of the sport.
Villeneuve compared the upcoming film to ‘Rush’, a Hollywood-style racing movie he enjoyed. However, he remains skeptical about the type of audience it will attract. “The film will make a lot more people excited about F1, but not necessarily for the right reasons,” he added.
On a more optimistic note, F1 president Stefano Domenicali discussed the potential positive impacts of the film, predicting it could be even bigger than Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive’. “I think that if Netflix was big, I think that the movie… will be massive,” Domenicali said, hinting at significant promotional plans.
The impact of Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ film remains to be seen, but it’s already sparking debate.
