- 7 months ago
The cast of 'F1'— Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem —gather for a fast-paced conversation about making their adrenaline-fueled new film. From hitting speeds of 180mph to training with real Formula 1 drivers like Lewis Hamilton, they dive into the challenges of race-day filming, the thrill of working on real courses at the British Grand Prix, and the art of acting through a helmet—relying only on their eyes to convey emotion.
Brad opens up about the intensity of filming high-speed corners, Damson jokes about “off-roading” during training, and Javier reveals whether the movie made him want to drive (spoiler: it didn’t). Kerry shares admiration for director Joseph Kosinski’s precision under pressure and reflects on telling a story that honors real F1 racers—with cameos from legends and sportscasters alike.
'F1' is available in theaters June 27, 2025.
Brad opens up about the intensity of filming high-speed corners, Damson jokes about “off-roading” during training, and Javier reveals whether the movie made him want to drive (spoiler: it didn’t). Kerry shares admiration for director Joseph Kosinski’s precision under pressure and reflects on telling a story that honors real F1 racers—with cameos from legends and sportscasters alike.
'F1' is available in theaters June 27, 2025.
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PeopleTranscript
00:00This is Around the Table with the cast of F1.
00:02Some of the cast.
00:04Not necessarily the best of the cast.
00:06Hey!
00:07But a lot of the cast.
00:20Listen, let's get this straight.
00:22We all lose our jobs if you can't pull off a miracle.
00:26No pressure, no.
00:28The first time out at Silverstone, when we're, you know, that day one, we're filming.
00:33There's over 100,000 fans, and we've got everything coordinated prep.
00:36We're going to get 15 minutes on the track.
00:38We cannot cock this up because if we lose the car there, they're going to have to come and tow it out,
00:43and we're going to screw up the whole, like, schedule.
00:47And do comm checks, belts on, everything, sit in the car, waiting, waiting, waiting.
00:52It's time to go, and we take off.
00:54My comms went out.
00:55Oh.
00:56With Lutz.
00:56I had no comms.
00:57Oh, I remember that.
00:58Oh, God.
00:59And suddenly, it's the first time on the track with fans filming, and we have no comms.
01:06But fortunately, we had choreographed it so much that we just wung it.
01:10Wow.
01:10You were amazing.
01:11Wah, wah, wah.
01:12Yeah, yeah.
01:13It was like, you got to go, right?
01:15You got to go.
01:16And still, you were also acting, do you have to say?
01:19Yes.
01:19Allegedly.
01:20Yes.
01:21Allegedly.
01:22Take that, Lewis Hamilton.
01:23Some call it acting.
01:25I call it beautiful acting.
01:27Everyone is great.
01:28Even, like, Will Buxton and all the Crofty and Martin Brundle, all the sportscasters who
01:34gave us that legitimacy.
01:35Well, you were the best dressed on set every night.
01:38Oh, that's true.
01:38He's the best dressed on and off the set.
01:40I mean, look at that green.
01:41Look at that.
01:42Everybody was sweating in their things, in their driving gear.
01:45And I was, it was me like, what, what is wearing Ruben tonight?
01:49I climbed a mountain to get here, bro.
01:53Formula One.
01:55Back home, we call that a participation trophy.
01:58Honestly, though, when I used to watch you go and buy, I was like, I think, I think he's
02:02going quicker than me.
02:03I'm not even, I'm not even lying.
02:06When I used to watch you go by, I would say, I was thinking, I'm definitely quicker than
02:09you.
02:11Not even, not even.
02:13Wisely, they never let us on the track at the same time.
02:15Really.
02:16We were both so fast and we drove up to 180 miles per hour, which is insane.
02:20I know.
02:20The first question was, is like, how fast did you go?
02:23And it's really, that's not what's so awesome about these cars because speed becomes relative.
02:28And that's when you're in the straight line.
02:30That's actually when you can catch your breath, take a little look around.
02:33Yeah.
02:34It's like the high-speed corners.
02:36It's just shocking you can take and that you can brake and it'll stop you.
02:40What do you hear?
02:41Oh, good one.
02:43Hmm.
02:45Really, it's that engine.
02:48That's what I would always hear.
02:49Oh, really?
02:51Yeah.
02:51Engine is going.
02:52You're not even watching your gears.
02:53You're not even, really, because you start to get attuned to what gear you're in.
02:58In the beginning, though, I definitely used to look at it.
03:01Oh, yeah, in the beginning.
03:02Yeah, I was like, okay, two.
03:03And by the time you look up, you're already at the end of the road.
03:07In the beginning, how many, like, unintended off-road trips do you think you took?
03:11I haven't counted, but I'm probably in the second hand, probably.
03:15Yeah, definitely.
03:16Yeah, yeah, yeah.
03:16I was definitely doing some detours.
03:18Who are giving you the tips to know where you have to say the line?
03:22Oh, we would go, we would sit down, we'd have a map of the track, and we'd go through what
03:26we were aiming for at each section.
03:27So we know when we hit this point, we've got to get choreographed this moment.
03:30And we'd choreograph with the cars and get the lines in at that point.
03:33Well, it's starting.
03:40The funniest thing about the whole process for me was you could only see the eyes when
03:46you're driving.
03:47So if I was normally saying it, I'd be like, hey, how far away is Sonny?
03:52All right, nothing's happening.
03:53So Joe would be like, you need to do more.
03:55I'm like, do more?
03:56What do you mean?
03:57So then I was like, how far away is Sonny?
03:59It's so true.
04:00It was insane.
04:01I mean, we're trying to be, like, subtle, right?
04:03I'm like acting.
04:04Oh, yeah.
04:05A blink?
04:06Oh, my gosh.
04:06Oscar nomination.
04:08A blink.
04:08A blink.
04:09Oh, my God.
04:09He blinked!
04:12Today, to be honest, I feel like a kid seeing Brad at work.
04:17Yeah, I don't think we could have done this film without Lewis Hamilton.
04:20I think he was so smart of Joe.
04:22First thing he did when he had this idea, put actors and cars on real tracks and embed
04:27ourselves in the pinnacle of the sport, F1.
04:29He knew he had to get someone to guide us, keep us honest.
04:32And his first call was to Lewis.
04:35And Lewis, also being a big lover of the arts, jumped in.
04:39And we had one 12-hour meeting in London to sit down.
04:43We were just throwing shit at him.
04:45How about this?
04:45How about that?
04:46And he would tell us and describe his experience.
04:48So the whole ending was really based on this spiritual moment that he described in the car.
04:54And not only that, the whole crash that we built Sonny's character around, it was this horrendous
05:01crash by driver Martin Donnelly.
05:02Yes.
05:03His story to me is every bit as moving as any champion.
05:06He's from Northern Ireland.
05:09Yeah, I remember you telling me.
05:10It was 1991.
05:11He's up and coming.
05:12He's the guy.
05:14And in that race at Hareth, through no fault of his own, there was a failure in the car.
05:19And he hit the wall.
05:22My God.
05:23And that is his crash.
05:24And it was career-ending.
05:26And he speaks very poetically about his life now, where that turn it took him, and the love
05:31for his family.
05:31He's really beautiful.
05:33I can't thank Martin enough.
05:34You think I brought you in to make my other driver quit?
05:37Listen, he's cocky.
05:39He's arrogant.
05:40He's got a lot to learn.
05:42You were cocky.
05:42You were arrogant.
05:44And you had a lot to learn.
05:45Did this movie make you want to start driving, Mike?
05:47You know what?
05:48No.
05:48Come on!
05:50Even less, I would say.
05:53It's absolutely crazy.
05:55I admire a lot about a lot of the people, drivers and the racers on the track.
06:01It takes so much work of so many people.
06:03It's a team sport, though, once you are on the track, you're on your own.
06:07That mental strength is something to admire.
06:10Forget about driving 200 miles per hour.
06:13It's about being focused.
06:14And you guys were able to do that, which is amazing.
06:17When did you guys fall in love with Joe Kaczynski throughout the filming of this?
06:22Action!
06:24Action!
06:25Action!
06:25Action!
06:26Me, it was in the Zoom when he called me to offer me the job.
06:29And I was telling him how much I love Top Gun Maverick.
06:32He was like, yeah, but I want to say, talk about something.
06:35No, no, hold on, hold on.
06:36Top Gun Maverick, because that scene and that moment.
06:39And he was like, at the end, he said, well, I'll call you all the time just to offer you
06:43something.
06:44Now I have to hang up.
06:45I love this guy.
06:47He was so like...
06:48When he gave you a job, he was like, I kind of like that guy.
06:50Yeah, I was like, what was that call about?
06:52Ah, wow.
06:53He was going to offer me something, but I didn't let him talk.
06:56What was it for you?
06:58Wow, there's so many.
07:00When we were doing the scene when we were in the car, and we had five minutes to get the
07:06shot, and I was just watching him be an absolute wizard, and just a sensei, and so focused,
07:12and just orchestrating everything.
07:15And the world of Formula One was just whizzing by, I was just like, this is a master at work.
07:20So yeah, that's when I was like, we are in the best hands possible.
07:23And so damn lovable.
07:25And great tips for directing, for actors.
07:27Because many of the scenes, many of the moments I had to play was one line here, one line there,
07:33one reaction, which is kind of difficult, because you're playing...
07:38For nothing.
07:38Yeah, on the Red Cross.
07:40And he was very acute on telling me why he would say or react that way.
07:46And that's amazing, having in mind that he's holding the pressure of such a big monster
07:52of a movie like this.
07:53So when you're watching the races, you had to do most of that just to like a little red
07:57X on the thing.
07:57You're not really seeing anything.
07:58No, no, no, no, no.
07:59Oh, man, that's so hard.
08:01While you were really driving.
08:03Oh.
08:04But can I look at Brad driving?
08:06Well, you can only go...
08:08Yeah, I know.
08:08You do that.
08:10There's 20 other drivers still out on that track.
08:12And you're in here posing for that nonsense.
08:14Do you think any of them respect us?
08:16Do you?
08:17We have the real drivers there.
08:20And we are now telling a story about these drivers.
08:24And it's our respect and love for them and why we wanted to be there.
08:27At the same time, that respect and love, it's just humbling.
08:30It's just like...
08:31Absolutely.
08:31A bit embarrassing for me when we started to be in their suits and their shoes and their
08:36helmets.
08:36Pretending.
08:37Yes, yes.
08:38But fortunately, you know, after a year and a half of that.
08:40You know, one of them.
08:41And they were so kind.
08:42I just felt like it was their own backyard.
08:43Yeah.
08:43Absolutely.
08:44Yeah.
08:44Our garage was right in the middle of between Ferrari and Mercedes.
08:48And then there's these two a*****s.
08:51Swans.
08:51For the races.
08:52These two swans.
08:53Oh, the worst scenario.
08:54Oh, man.
08:55Swans.
08:56We had that press conference scene.
08:58And the real press conference of Formula One was happening.
09:00And we've obviously got to play the story.
09:02I'm coming out with a smile.
09:04And Lando's just had a crazy crash.
09:06Oh, my God.
09:06Oh, no.
09:07And he's got to actually talk to the press.
09:10In the press pen after the races?
09:12Mm-hmm.
09:13With the interview.
09:13Meanwhile, I'm over here geeking off and stuff.
09:16Oh, yes.
09:17I guess we're behind Lando's interview.
09:20Yeah, but film is forever.
09:22Is it?
09:23Yes, it is.
09:23I love that energy.
09:25Carrie.
09:25So they're in the movie forever.
09:27Oh, yes.
09:27Films for 20 years.
09:29Maybe 30.
09:32Hope is not a strategy.
09:34Anything else, Professor?
09:35Try fast.
09:36For me, it was hallowed ground.
09:38Because I watched the sport most of my life.
09:41And getting into their little ecosystem.
09:45The first weekend, I was rather humble.
09:49A little bit embarrassed, you know?
09:51Like, we're standing next to the drivers in the national anthem.
09:54You just feel like, oh, my God.
09:56Suck it up.
09:56Suck it up.
09:57Do your job.
09:57Do your job.
09:58Well, going into their world, I was terrified we were going to, A, look like amateurs.
10:03And do it wrong.
10:04And you know what I mean?
10:05And distract.
10:06So I remember just kind of being like, keep the head down.
10:09And just go in and do the job.
10:11But in terms of the fans, I guess you guys would know more about that.
10:15Because I was on the pit wall.
10:16We had a fan encounter with you trying to shoot a scene.
10:20Brad had to shoot this scene.
10:22And then a fan ran right in the shot to get a picture.
10:24Oh, right.
10:25Just ran it.
10:25It was like this.
10:26This is when we're on the grid.
10:27Yeah, yeah.
10:28It's on Silverstone.
10:29Yes, it's Silverstone.
10:30We've got five minutes to get this shot.
10:31Day two, we're going to get our two takes to do our scene.
10:34It was approaching you.
10:35We're walking to that.
10:36It's the grid.
10:37It's packed.
10:38The real drivers, real cars are getting ready to start the race.
10:42And we're going to get two takes at this.
10:44And some fan comes up in the middle and goes,
10:45Can I get a picture?
10:46Can I get a picture?
10:51About 20 people.
10:52He saw his head.
10:53Oh, he was thinking way too big of himself.
10:55A hundred people picked that guy out of it.
10:58Or when we did the scene.
11:00Where you come back after our first race.
11:02I remember when you went to your helmet off.
11:05We knew we had only a certain amount of takes before people would do the double take.
11:09And go, Hey, hang on a minute.
11:10Do I know that person?
11:12So remember, we had to be like quick.
11:14Because then people started to recognize you.
11:16This is the fastest walker in the world.
11:19I would have to walk with him.
11:21And I became a part of your security detail too.
11:24And wow, the way you moved, man.
11:26I'm taking it into my life.
11:27Really?
11:27Yeah, there's no stopping.
11:29It's like, boom, oh, Brad's gone.
11:30I just figured, like, be the shark.
11:32Just keep moving.
11:33Absolutely.
11:33Keep moving.
11:34What's the difference between Joshua Pierce and Sonny Hayes?
11:37A lot of decades.
11:39Hard one experience.
11:40Of living in a van.
11:41Says a guy who still lives with his mom.
11:43Says a guy with two pets.
11:45Says a guy with trips.
11:46Says a guy with a full house.
11:47I didn't really think about that.
11:51Like, the woman thing.
11:52Do you know?
11:52I just kind of, like, thought about my job or whatever.
11:55And then kind of slotted in with everybody.
11:58But I had Bernie Collins, who was from Ireland.
12:01So I was like, thank God.
12:02Like, because she went to an all-girls school kind of similar to me.
12:06And then I knew girls in school who'd done engineering in college as well.
12:11So I just imagined or remembered what they were kind of like.
12:15What their forte was.
12:16Like, maths and stuff.
12:18But she was real, like, normal about it.
12:20You know?
12:20She was just like, yeah, there was just loads of men in college.
12:23So it was, like, no different.
12:24I don't think it's because of F1, like, not hiring.
12:29I think it's just that engineering and maths tend to be more, like, male.
12:34Or interested in them or something.
12:36I don't know why.
12:37I'm not, like, you know, studying brains or whatever.
12:39But it seems to be it.
12:41But, I mean, I think there's a real effort to open up.
12:44Certainly Lewis behind a big opening up in diversity.
12:48I'd say, like, if you're sharp enough, yeah.
12:51Like Hannah Schmidt, right?
12:52Like, she's a strategist for Red Bull.
12:54So, obviously, there's so much money on the line.
12:57And good. Damn good.
12:57Yeah.
12:58So it's, like, obviously, if you're great.
12:59They get it right.
13:00Yeah.
13:01So often.
13:01And also, I think there's, like, sacrifices.
13:05So you want to be real into it.
13:08At the same time, though, like, a great crack.
13:10It's a great job if you're into it, you know.
13:13Three laps.
13:15Three laps is a lifetime.
13:16It's a great job, although greedier.
13:24So when we call it out.
13:24Yeah, your man.
13:25No, no, no!
13:26It's all for it.
13:27No, no, no!
13:28No, no, no!
13:29No, no, no.
13:29No.
13:30No, no, no.
13:32No, no.
13:32No, no.
13:34No, no, no.
13:35No, no.
13:36No, but anyway.
13:37No, no, no.
13:38But then, it turns out one of it.
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