Damson Idris and Brad Pitt hit the carpet for NY F1 premiere

Brad Pitt and Damson Idris practiced on the track in genuine race vehicles to prepare for their roles in the forthcoming Formula One racing film, "F1."
We ended up driving for about two years. I was told that we drove 6,000 miles in total in these cars,” Pitt told Variety at the “F1” premiere on Monday in New York City. “So, I’m kinda proud of that.”

The high-octane sports drama centers on Sonny Hayes (Pitt), a retired Formula One driver who is compelled to return to the racing world in order to serve as a mentor to a young rookie, Idris, for the fictitious Apex Grand Prix team. Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon, and Tobias Menzies are also the protagonists of the film.

The cast collaborated closely with genuine Formula One drivers, such as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who also functions as a producer on the film, to guarantee authenticity.

“Every time I was behind that wheel, it was the most exhilarating feeling in the world,” Idris said. “And the fact that we got to follow the real Grand Prix and be around all the drivers — I got to watch them, and I got to really see how they immerse themselves in the world — and they were so welcoming.”

Director Joseph Kosinski stated that he dedicated nearly a year to the storyboarding of the film, with the majority of the situations in "F1"—including the crash sequences—getting their inspiration from real-life occurrences. Formula One circuits worldwide, including Silverstone in England, were utilized to film significant race scenes.

“This was a real challenge because we were shooting during a live sporting event, so we weren’t on our own schedule. We were on the schedule of Formula One, which is very tight,” Kosinski said. “So, rather than having a few hours to shoot a scene, or days, I only had three minutes in some cases, which meant the actors had one or two takes to get it right.”

The "biggest thing in the world" for British actor dris was his first time stepping onto Silverstone.

“That’s my home turf,” he said. “And we got to stand with all the Formula One drivers; we got to sing the national anthem — there were fireworks going over — and then we got to walk back to the scene that we were going to shoot while ‘We Will Rock You’ is playing. I looked to the right: it’s Brad Pitt. He’s doing the sexy Brad Pitt walk. And I’m like, I need to try and look sexy too. But the whole experience was amazing.”

Idris added, “Everyone was so happy, regardless of where they are in their careers. That day, all of us felt like little kids. And it’s a testament to the world of Formula One.”

F1 comes to theaters on June 27.

All pictures below courtesy Getty Images