In a gripping revelation that ties Hollywood to the real world of Formula 1, Brad Pitt has shared the real-life inspiration behind his character, Sonny Hayes, in the recently released blockbuster F1 The Movie.
The film, which hit cinemas last month following star-studded premieres in New York and London, has captivated audiences with its authentic portrayal of the sport.
Pitt, starring as a seasoned F1 driver staging a comeback with the fictional APXGP team alongside rookie Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, drew from a poignant moment in motorsport history to shape his character’s dramatic backstory.
A Tragic Crash That Shaped a Character
Speaking on a recent Beyond the Grid podcast, Pitt disclosed that the near-fatal crash in 1990 of former F1 driver Martin Donnelly during practice for the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez served as the cornerstone for Sonny Hayes’ past.
“We based Sonny's past on Martin Donnelly's crash,” Pitt said. “Martin was so gracious to give us his footage and to allow us to build our character around that.”
Donnelly’s accident, a harrowing moment in F1 history, saw the Irish driver suffer severe injuries when his Lotus car disintegrated after hitting a guardrail at high speed.
The crash abruptly ended his promising F1 career, as the injuries he sustained prevented him from returning to the sport. Despite the tragedy, Donnelly’s resilience and willingness to share his story with the F1 The Movie team added a layer of authenticity to Pitt’s portrayal of a driver haunted yet driven by his past.
Immersed in the World of F1
The film’s production leaned heavily on the cooperation of Formula 1’s real-world teams, with filming taking place during actual Grand Prix weekends across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Pitt, a lifelong fan of the sport, described the experience as transformative.
“We're coming at it in such awe. My earliest memory is Jackie Stewart in plaid - that's how far I go back, just being a wee kid,” he shared, reflecting on his personal connection to F1.
The actor even got behind the wheel of McLaren’s 2023 car at the Circuit of the Americas, an opportunity he described as unforgettable, and awarded to him by McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown.
“I miss it. I miss it now. It's crazy,” Pitt continued, emphasizing the unprecedented access granted by the F1 community, which allowed the production to embed itself within the sport.
“They let us in, they opened the gates for us. We couldn't have done it without F1. We couldn't have done it without the teams and the team principals and Lewis [Hamilton], who's informed so much of our script and really opened the doors for us.”
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The collaboration extended to filming at several top teams’ facilities.
“We shot in the sim at Mercedes. We shot at Williams. McLaren is our headquarters [in the film]. Everyone opened the doors for us and in such an amazing way.”
The actor marveled at the audacity of the project, calling it a singular achievement in filmmaking.
“It's such an audacious idea, and I can't think of any other film that that's ever happened. To allow us to embed ourselves into the racing season is something pretty extraordinary. I had the time of my life,” he said.
F1 The Movie has earned praise from current F1 drivers for its realistic depiction of the sport, blending high-stakes drama with the visceral thrill of racing.
The film undoubtedly stands as a testament to the sport’s allure and the collaborative spirit that brought Pitt’s vision of Sonny Hayes – rooted in the real-life trials of Martin Donnelly – to life.
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