Toto Wolff has revealed how Lewis Hamilton straightforwardly informed Brad Pitt that he was deemed “too old” to depict a Formula One driver contending for World Championships in a movie. This frank discussion, which left the renowned actor unimpressed, led to a revision of the script for the upcoming film project.
Initially, Pitt’s character, a veteran racer named Sonny Hayes, was intended to challenge the top tier of the sport for a championship title. However, the revised storyline portrays him making a comeback to Grand Prix racing in his 50s, driving for the struggling fictional team APX GP alongside the up-and-coming talent Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris.
This significant alteration in direction emerged after a gathering with Wolff, Hamilton, and others during the early stages of the project’s development.
During the Autosport Business Exchange event in New York, Wolff recounted the dinner meeting that took place with key figures involved in the project, including director Joe, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Lewis, Brad Pitt, Susie Wolff, and himself.
Wolff shared, “Initially, the idea was for Pitt’s character, Hayes, to be a driver contending for a World Championship. However, Lewis pointed out that this approach wouldn’t work as Pitt was considered too old for a Formula One driver. Brad was displeased with this feedback, feeling he was in his prime to play a Formula One driver.”
The subsequent adaptation of the script was well-received, as it provided a credible and engaging storyline for Pitt’s role in the film.
The Formula One movie, where Hamilton serves as an executive producer, achieved tremendous success, impressing critics, generating excitement among a new audience, and setting box office records by becoming the highest-grossing sports film globally, accumulating £467 million ($628 million).
Positive feedback from notable personalities within the F1 paddock further bolstered the film’s reception.
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Wolff mentioned, “We, including all the F1 drivers and team principals, watched the premiere in Monaco during the Grand Prix weekend and we were impressed. The movie provided excellent entertainment, and the revenue it has generated has been exceptional.”