Brad Pitt has long been Hollywood’s golden boy – equal parts heartthrob, chameleon and cinematic daredevil. But in 2025, he’s not just basking in legacy; he’s redefining it. With F1: The Movie, which sped into cinemas earlier this summer, Pitt trades red carpets for racetracks as a washed-up Formula One driver clawing his way back into the sport. It’s a role that demands grit, vulnerability and velocity – and the actor delivers all three with the kind of swagger only he can summon.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), F1 is a high-octane sports drama that’s part redemption arc, part adrenaline rush. Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, is a former racing prodigy whose career was derailed by a catastrophic crash in the 1990s. Decades later, he’s lured back into the cockpit to help save a struggling team from collapse. The film is packed with real-life Grand Prix footage, cameos from actual Formula One drivers, and a soundtrack that pulses with Hans Zimmer’s signature intensity.

But it’s Pitt’s performance that anchors the spectacle. He’s not just playing a racer, he’s embodying a man haunted by past glory, driven by unfinished business, and learning to trust again. Whether he’s trading barbs with his rookie teammate (played by Snowfall’s Damson Idris) or locking eyes with Kerry Condon’s steely technical director, Pitt brings a weathered charisma that’s impossible to ignore.

Drive for Realism

What makes F1 more than just another sports flick is its authenticity. Filmed during actual Grand Prix weekends across 2023 and 2024, the movie features real tracks, real teams and real tension. Pitt didn’t just act, he trained. With guidance from Mercedes AMG and Lewis Hamilton (who also co-produced the film), the actor drove modified Formula Two cars designed to mimic Formula One machines.

The production team went all in, converting six Formula Two cars into camera-ready racers with 15 built-in mounts. The result? Racing sequences that feel visceral, cinematic, and surprisingly grounded. Kosinski’s direction leans into realism, capturing the chaos of pit stops, the precision of overtakes, and the emotional stakes of every lap.

 “It’s undeniable [that we are driving the cars]; we’re not sitting on a sound stage with wind machines,” says F1’s star, hailing the filming as “one of the most extraordinary experiences I’ve had”. He enthuses: “I’ve been trying to get a racing movie done for 20 years. I’ve tried bikes, I’ve tried cars, I’ve tried different disciplines, and for whatever reason, they never came to fruition. [We wanted] to make the most realistic racing movie we’ve seen to date, and I think that’s what we’ve done.”

Pitt Never Stops

For the actor, F1 isn’t just another notch on his filmography; it’s a statement. At 61, Pitt’s proving that reinvention isn’t reserved for newcomers. His career has spanned decades and multiple award nominations, from the film that got him noticed, Thelma & Louise (1991), to Fight Club (1999), Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), which secure d his best-supporting-actor Oscar win. He’s played assassins, astronauts and ageing stuntmen, but F1 taps into something deeper: the idea that greatness isn’t static; it evolves.

Sonny Hayes is a man out of time, trying to adapt to a sport that’s left him behind. Pitt, too, is navigating a Hollywood landscape that’s increasingly obsessed with youth and novelty. Yet he remains relevant – not by chasing trends, but by choosing roles that challenge him. F1 is a metaphor for that journey: a comeback story that mirrors Pitt’s own refusal to coast.

He says: “Man, I’ve been doing this for a while and was wondering: Do I have more stories to tell? Do I have anything to add to this? Is there still any excitement I can find from this? [This film] just reinvigorated the whole thing again for me.”

He plays Sonny with a quiet ache, a man who’s lost more than he lets on and who’s terrified of losing again. This emotional depth is what elevates F1 beyond the genre. It’s not just about speed, it’s about healing. Pitt’s ability to toggle between bravado and brokenness is what makes Sonny believable. He’s not invincible; he’s human. And that humanity is what keeps audiences invested.

Life Beyond the Limelight

Brad Pitt’s star power is undeniable, but it’s his versatility that keeps him interesting. He’s not afraid to get messy, to play flawed characters, to let the audience see the cracks. In F1, he’s not the fastest or the flashiest, but he’s the most determined – and that determination resonates.

Off-screen, Pitt has embraced a quieter life of late, especially after his high-profile separation from Angelina Jolie in 2016. He’s focused on producing through his company, Plan B Entertainment, which he and his first wife, Jennifer Aniston, co-founded back in 2001. 12 Years a Slave (2013), which earned him a producer’s Academy Award for Best Picture; The Big Short (2015); and Moonlight (2016) number among the critically acclaimed films he has backed.

He’s also delved into architecture – in an interview in 2008, he called acting his career and architecture his passion – exhibited his sculptures, and poured his heart into winemaking – the celebrated rosé of Château Miraval. Romantically, he appears at peace with jewellery executive Ines de Ramon. But when he returns to acting, it’s with purpose.

F1 is already being hailed as one of the year’s biggest blockbusters, grossing more than US$395 million worldwide. Critics have praised its visuals, its pacing, and Pitt’s performance. Some Formula One purists have nitpicked the racing accuracy, but most agree that it’s a thrilling ride. And for Pitt, it’s another feather in a cap that’s already overflowing.

Lap of Fame

His portrayal of Sonny Hayes may not win him another Oscar, but it cements his status as an actor who still has something to say. He’s not cruising by on charm; he’s pushing boundaries. A 30-year superstar of the silver screen, Pitt could have played it safe and leaned into nostalgia. Instead, he chose to race forward, literally and figuratively. And in a landscape where many stars fade, he continues to shine.

“You get to my age and see how important it is to surround yourself with the people you know, the people you love, the people that love you back,” he says. “Friends, family and that’s it. From there, we get to go make things. It’s a pretty simple … equation.”

As Sonny Hayes crosses the finish line – spoiler alert – victorious and vindicated, it’s hard not to see Pitt in the same light. He’s a man who’s weathered storms, embraced change and come out stronger. And in F1, he’s not just acting – he’s accelerating.