Brad Pitt on Sonny Hayes role: A true racer

Brad Pitt takes the lead as Sonny Hayes in F1 The Movie, a high-octane drama directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski. The film follows Hayes, a former Formula 1 rising star whose career was cut short by a serious accident in the 1990s. Years later, he gets a second chance when his old teammate, now a struggling team owner (played by Javier Bardem), calls him back to the track.

Pitt describes Hayes as a pure racer driven by passion, not fame. He left the sport young and thought he had moved on—until this opportunity brought back everything he once loved, Pitt shared. Known as the greatest that never was, Hayes steps back into the F1 world with a mix of experience, grit, and unfinished business.

To shape the role, Pitt and the filmmakers spoke with real F1 drivers, gaining insight into the pressures and realities of the sport. You can be among the best, but being stuck at the back of the grid can crush your spirit, Pitt noted.

Hayes is portrayed as a bold, risk-taking driver who never lost his edge, despite setbacks. He’s a cowboy racer chasing one final shot, Pitt said. Shot during actual Grand Prix weekends, the film features real-life F1 locations, with Pitt even driving on the track alongside current legends.

Also starring Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Kim Bodnia, the movie blends high-speed thrills with a heartfelt story of second chances and the deep passion that fuels a racer’s soul.

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Brad Pitt recently shared he’s open to working with Tom Cruise again—but only if it doesn’t involve high-flying stunts. Joking in an interview with E! News, Pitt said, I’m not hanging off airplanes, referring to Cruise’s signature daredevil scenes. The two last worked together in the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire.