{"id":177111,"date":"2025-06-26T23:30:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T23:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/26\/is-f1-based-on-a-true-story-the-inspiration-behind-brad-pitts-film\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T23:30:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T23:30:09","slug":"is-f1-based-on-a-true-story-the-inspiration-behind-brad-pitts-film","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/26\/is-f1-based-on-a-true-story-the-inspiration-behind-brad-pitts-film\/","title":{"rendered":"Is F1 Based on a True Story? The Inspiration Behind Brad Pitt\u2019s Film"},"content":{"rendered":"


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F1<\/em> follows the story of racer Sonny Hayes, a driver who had to retire from Formula 1 after a devastating crash. The character, played by Brad Pitt<\/strong><\/a>, later returns to the sport with some persuasion from Javier Bardem<\/strong>\u2019s Ruben Cervantes. He goes on to race for the Apex Grand Prix team and mentor rookie Joshua \u201cNoah\u201d Pearce, played by Damson Idris<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The sports drama, due out in theaters on June 27, 2025, has generated a ton of buzz for its fast-paced scenes<\/a> full of adrenaline. The film also stars Kerry Condon<\/strong>, Tobias Menzies<\/strong> and Shea Whigham<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Since the film was first announced, many have wondered if the story is based on the real life of a racer or if it\u2019s a work of fiction.<\/p>\n

Us Weekly<\/em> breaks down whether or not there\u2019s some truth to the film.<\/p>\n

Was \u2018F1\u2019 Filmed at Real Races?<\/h2>\n

F1 was filmed at real grand prix races that took place from 2023 to 2024. Pitt and Damson actually got behind the wheel of real life race cars to film scenes for the movie<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time you see Brad or Damson driving [in] this movie, they\u2019re driving on their own in one of these real race cars on a real F1 track,\u201d director Joseph Kosinski<\/strong> revealed per the F1<\/em> website. \u201cSo that\u2019s kind of how we approached the making of this film.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pitt reflected on tackling the role headfirst and embracing the race car driver mentality while portraying Sonny.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like nothing I\u2019ve ever experienced before,\u201d he told Extra<\/em><\/a> at the film\u2019s New York City premiere<\/a> on June 16, 2025. \u201cThere\u2019s this strange calm that happens in the car and this total focus and presence that, like, I\u2019ve never experienced from anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Brad Pitt<\/span> Mark Thompson\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Is \u2018F1\u2019 Based on a True Story?<\/h2>\n

While F1<\/em> was filmed at real races, the movie is not based on a true story. The goal of the cast and crew was to make a movie that was as \u201cauthentic\u201d to the sport as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe trained like four months out of the year to really hone our craft in these vehicles \u2014 and we also did it while having to act and try to look cute and say your lines,\u201d Idris told The Hollywood Reporter<\/em><\/a> at the film\u2019s NYC premiere.<\/p>\n

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