Brad Pitt’s F1 movie hits cinemas next week, but his film debut began with a sharp warning to drivers.

Before Brad Pitt slipped into a racing suit and stepped onto the grid for his long-awaited Formula 1 movie, he had one raw and very direct message for the sport’s top drivers: “If we’re ever in the way, just tell us to f*** off!”

It was the summer of 2023, and the Hollywood superstar had just arrived at Silverstone, the historic home of the British Grand Prix, to begin filming scenes for what would become F1: The Movie. With the entire F1 circus buzzing around him, Pitt delivered the line with typical charm—and a desire not to interfere with the real racing business unfolding around him.

The project, years in the making, was unlike anything Formula 1 had ever attempted. Filming began at real Grand Prix weekends with real F1 personnel and crowds, and the sport made space for it—literally and metaphorically. But Pitt, aware of how sacred the paddock is to drivers and teams, was intent on making sure the crew didn’t cross any lines.

Now, as F1: The Movie races towards cinemas worldwide, behind-the-scenes anecdotes like Pitt’s candid comment are resurfacing and giving fans a fresh glimpse into how the film blended fiction with the ferociously fast reality of motorsport.

Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver who never managed to win during his first stint in the sport back in the 1990s. But Hayes is drawn back to the paddock when team boss Ruben Cervantes—played by Javier Bardem—asks him to return to the cockpit, this time not just to compete, but to mentor a rising talent.

Enter Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce, a brilliant but raw young driver who has the speed but not yet the finesse. Hayes is tasked with shaping Pearce into a champion, while simultaneously facing the physical and emotional toll of his own racing comeback.

Filming took place at multiple F1 circuits across two seasons, starting at Silverstone and concluding in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2024. Between these races, Pitt and the production crew became familiar faces in the paddock, even donning full team gear and working out of a faux garage for their fictional team, APXGP.

The realism was essential. Directed by Top Gun: Maverick‘s Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the movie aimed to capture the raw essence of racing using cutting-edge technology and trackside authenticity. Formula 1 even partnered directly with the film to ensure seamless integration into real race weekends—drivers, fans, and commentators alike often shared the space with Pitt’s character during actual race days.

Despite some early awkwardness—understandable given the film crew’s size and presence—Pitt quickly earned the respect of many in the F1 community for his commitment and genuine enthusiasm. His initial expletive-laced greeting to the drivers? It worked. It signalled respect. And it helped break the ice.

The movie’s plot, built on redemption, mentorship, and speed, promises plenty of adrenaline and heart. With an ensemble cast, real cars, and actual circuits as the backdrop, it’s poised to be one of the most immersive motorsport films ever produced.

With F1: The Movie set to hit theatres next week, anticipation is mounting. But the tone was set that day at Silverstone, when Brad Pitt proved he wasn’t there to step on any toes—unless the script demanded it.