Renowned Hollywood actor Brad Pitt recently shocked the world by taking a private Formula 1 test with McLaren, just days before the highly-anticipated release of a new F1 movie where he stars as the main protagonist. The movie is set to follow the story of Sonny Hayes, a veteran racing driver making a thrilling comeback in the world of Formula 1.
Pitt, a familiar face in the F1 paddock in recent years, was spotted behind the wheel of a modified Formula 2 car during filming. However, it seems he couldn’t resist the allure of real F1 machinery, as he was seen testing a McLaren at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, the venue for the United States Grand Prix.
McLaren teased Pitt’s test on social media, hinting at his involvement by posting an image of driver overalls with Pitt’s initials. The caption playfully read, “It’s a Sonny day in Austin.” Pitt reportedly got the chance to drive the McLaren MCL60, the team’s 2023 car, following in the footsteps of McLaren-backed F2 driver Alex Dunne and F1 driver Lando Norris.
After celebrating McLaren’s first Constructor’s title in 26 years last season, the team has had a stellar start to the F1 2025 season with seven wins in the opening 10 races. Currently leading the Constructors’ standings by a significant margin, Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri are dominating the championship.
The F1 movie, which Pitt also produced, is expected to attract a whole new generation of fans to the sport, capitalizing on the success of the popular Netflix series Drive To Survive. With Pitt’s involvement both on and off the screen, the movie is sure to be a blockbuster hit.
