F1 the Film: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon – what it’s prefer to be within the new movie alongside Hollywood stars | F1 Information

So… what’s it prefer to make a quick look in a Hollywood movie in regards to the sport you like?

After I first heard about F1 the Film, I used to be buzzing. I imply, Brad Pitt turning up on the Austin Grand Prix? In fact I attempted to seize a phrase with him however no scoop that day.

Nonetheless it wasn’t lengthy earlier than issues acquired very actual. The paddock started to remodel – in got here the articulated lorries and instantly an eleventh storage appeared on the finish of the pit lane. One thing large was occurring.

What impressed me was how seamlessly they built-in the filming right into a working F1 weekend. From the skin you won’t even have seen a film was being made – that is how cautious they have been to not disrupt the circulation.

However they have been proper in there with us, absorbing each element. Their dedication to authenticity, whereas nonetheless aiming for blockbuster standing, was actually exceptional.

Then got here the name. Would I prefer to be within the movie? Sure. Clearly. Even when I used to be simply wandering by within the background whereas the large stars delivered their strains, rely me in.

Then I came upon there was a line. An precise line… to ship to Brad Pitt. All I needed to do was be myself. No stress, proper? Think about standing in entrance of Brad, with a full crew, extras, solid, and somebody saying, ‘simply be your self’. Straightforward!

‘I guarded the script like gold’

The scene was being shot within the drivers’ interview pen at Silverstone. I wasn’t working for Sky that weekend, which meant I might truly do it.

As quickly because the contract dropped into my inbox, the nerves kicked in. Together with it got here an NDA – which meant I could not inform a soul what I used to be doing till the movie got here out. I would by no means seen an NDA earlier than – let’s simply say it was as intimidating as you’d think about!

Subsequent got here the script: a number of pages of A5 paper with my line and the remainder of the scene. I guarded it like gold. Though I hadn’t instructed anybody, by the point the British Grand Prix weekend rolled round, folks had began to place two and two collectively.

On Thursday, we rehearsed. First cease: the movie’s base contained in the circuit. They took me to my trailer – sure, I had a trailer. OK, not fairly the Brad Pitt model, nevertheless it had a settee, a dressing desk, a TV, a fridge and even a toilet. For one line. Nonetheless surreal.

Wardrobe got here first. I would been in contact with the pinnacle of wardrobe beforehand – he’d even scrolled by means of my Instagram to get a way of what I often put on on race weekends. They wished me to appear like me so I wore a black jumpsuit I’ve worn on Sky a number of occasions. Once more, their dedication to protecting all of it genuine actually stood out, even whereas capturing a large Hollywood manufacturing.

Then it was onto hair and make-up – which, for as soon as, wasn’t my very own handiwork. At Sky we do not have hair and make-up groups on the observe so this was a complete new expertise. The crew within the make-up truck have been so heat and welcoming, they made me really feel immediately comfortable.

From there I met one of many crew exterior their inexperienced room, a quiet little set-up tucked behind one of many vans of APXGP – the fictional crew within the movie – within the paddock. As we walked over to the pen, I heard the crew member say into their mic, ‘travelling with Rachel’. That phrase turned a little bit of a theme throughout the following three days!

On the pen I met Simon Kunz, who performs a journalist within the movie and likewise had strains within the scene. I instantly recognised him – 4 Weddings and a Funeral, The Mum or dad Lure, GoldenEye… the record goes on. We stood within the part of the pen cordoned off for filming, surrounded by the standard chaos of actual TV crews and cameras.

Then in walked Joseph Kosinski, the director (sure, that Joe Kosinski), who requested how the actual pen works – the place the microphones often go, how we deal with the interviews. He genuinely wished to get it proper and listened fastidiously to every part.

Then Brad got here down, stood in entrance of me and we walked by means of the scene. Alongside Joe was Toby Hefferman, the primary assistant director, and we rehearsed the set-up collectively.

As we waited for the digital camera crew to resolve on angles and placements, I ended up making small speak with Brad – precisely the sort of awkward, in between chat you do with drivers while you’re ready for mics to be prepared.

I requested him how the driving was going and what shocked him most. He talked in regards to the braking – how exhausting and late you brake, but nonetheless make the nook. I requested if he’d crashed throughout coaching and he stated, ‘no’, however he had spun a number of occasions!

Standing subsequent to him was Liz Kingsman, who performs his press officer. She requested if she appeared the half and I identified how press officers typically maintain their telephones as much as document the interview – a small element, however once more, they cared about these issues. That degree of consideration to element actually caught with me.

Then Joe requested me to ship the road. I did. Brad responded (I will not say what the road is – no spoilers!) As soon as they have been proud of the way it was all shaping up, we wrapped rehearsal and agreed to return on Saturday, after qualifying, to shoot the precise scene.

‘Hollywood and F1 colliding in essentially the most great manner’

Saturday got here and I used to be again on the base, again in my trailer, again in hair and make-up. Simply earlier than qualy I used to be mic’d up and escorted to the inexperienced room once more. As soon as qualifying began we acquired into place.

As drivers have been knocked out in Q1 they got here into the pen – and we filmed our scene. Cameras have been positioned behind us, capturing Brad’s face this time. We did it time and again, every time with totally different drivers passing by means of within the background.

Between takes, Brad would head again to his room till the following spherical of drivers got here in. It was a slick course of, and as soon as we would acquired what we would have liked we wrapped till Sunday.

Sunday, I used to be again within the paddock for race day. The aim this time? To catch a selected driver within the shot – however in fact, anybody can retire at any level, so we needed to be prepared from lights out. I watched the race from the APXGP storage with a few of the solid and crew.

Partway by means of, we noticed the movie’s trailer for the primary time. It was a magical second – the power within the room because the crew noticed their exhausting work on display screen was unforgettable.

Later I watched the remainder of the race with Simon Kunz and Jenson Button within the Williams motorhome. For Simon, watching a Grand Prix with Jenson was a pinch-me second. For me, it was a typical race weekend – and but fully surreal on the identical time.

These two very totally different worlds – Hollywood and F1 – have been colliding in essentially the most great manner. It was fascinating to see the mutual respect. F1 drivers have been starstruck by the actors and the actors have been in awe of the drivers. A beautiful reminder that irrespective of how well-known, wealthy or gifted somebody is, everybody has idols. Everybody places somebody on a pedestal.

Then it was again to the set to shoot the reverse angle of our scene. Fewer nerves this time – we knew what we have been doing. Timing was every part and the driving force we would have liked nailed it.

Then Damson Idris arrived. Joe requested me to face reverse him so he’d have somebody to ship his line to. He wanted a cue so I merely requested him to sum up his race and he nailed it, take after take, till Joe was glad.

Scenes wrapped, selfies with the crew taken – and similar to that, my half was finished.

So what’s the movie like?

Quick ahead 11 months to the European premiere in London. Warner Bros invited me to attend and stroll the pink carpet (which was truly gray, enjoyable reality). Truthfully? That was the scariest half. I used to be extra nervous having my image taken than I used to be delivering strains to Brad and Damson!

On the F1 the Film wall, Brad arrived, noticed Natalie Pinkham and I, and came to visit and chatted with us – even requested what we considered the movie. Everybody concerned did. They wished these of us who work in it day in and time out to be proud of how they’d portrayed it.

We had each seen it at media screenings already and will actually inform him we liked it. Compulsory selfie finished, we completed the final spherical of images and interviews, then headed in.

Simply earlier than the lights dimmed, Ed Sheeran walked previous to take his seat. Then a little bit of a commotion: Tom Cruise was on the lookout for his spot. Seems he was seated only a few rows behind us.

Then got here the large second – Joseph Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer, Lewis Hamilton, Kerry Condon, Damson Idris and Brad Pitt walked on stage to introduce the movie.

All of us watched it collectively and actually? It was even higher the second time. I would been nervous about how F1 can be portrayed, nevertheless it’s good. Suppose High Gun however on 4 wheels. Judging by the cheers from Tom Cruise on the finish, he thought so too.

For years I needed to clarify this sport to individuals who simply did not get it. Now? We have made it to the large display screen and it is a should see for F1 followers and non-F1 followers alike!

Enormous because of Warner Bros and everybody concerned within the movie. I am nonetheless pinching myself…

Subsequent up for the 2025 System 1 season is a return to Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix, which is stay on Sky Sports activities F1 this weekend. Stream Sky Sports activities with no contract.